The United Nations has suspended its ongoing evacuation operation in the Strait of Hormuz following a reported attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
The decision halts efforts to clear hundreds of ships and approximately 11,000 stranded mariners from the critical chokepoint, casting renewed uncertainty over the timeline for restoring normal transit operations.
The suspension comes at a fragile moment for global energy markets.
Just hours earlier, Brent crude had collapsed to pre-war levels as traders reacted to reports that shipping was resuming through the strait.
The sudden halt to the UN operation suggests that the security environment remains volatile, with the risk of further incidents persisting despite earlier signs of de-escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint, with roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passing through it daily.