The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused its efforts to evacuate stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz after a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman yesterday. The move came after the British military reported the strike, hours after Iran warned ships against using a new route through the waterway without Tehran’s permission.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the UN agency would keep the evacuation plan on hold until it could confirm safety guarantees for ships on the evacuation list and for vessels operating in the region. He said the vessel that came under attack was not part of the evacuation effort.

It was not immediately clear who launched the projectile or what type of vessel was targeted. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said the ship sustained damage but reported no injuries or environmental impact following the attack off the coast of Oman.