Danish shipping giant Maersk announced on Sunday that it has suspended all vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz following escalating regional tensions after US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
In a statement, the company said the safety of its crews, vessels and customers’ cargo remains its top priority. “We are suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice,” Maersk said.
The firm added that, due to the deteriorating security situation, all sailings on its Middle East–India to Mediterranean and Middle East–India to US East Coast services will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope until further notice.
Separately, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said it is suspending all new bookings for worldwide cargo bound for the Middle East region until further notice.
The developments come after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran. Iranian media subsequently reported that the Strait of Hormuz had been effectively closed in the aftermath of the strikes.
Iran on Sunday confirmed the assassination of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials in the attacks.
Washington and Tel Aviv have accused Tehran of pursuing nuclear and missile programmes that pose a threat to Israel and US allies in the region. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes and denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.