US advises American ships to avoid Iranian territorial waters

US Maritime Administration Issues Advisory to Vessels Transiting Strait of Hormuz

The United States Maritime Administration has released new guidelines for US-flagged ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, advising them to avoid Iran’s territorial waters and refrain from granting Iranian forces permission to board their vessels. The advisory, issued on Monday, also recommends that American ships remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety.

The guidelines come after a round of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Oman last week, following weeks of escalating rhetoric and tensions between the two countries. The US has been amassing military assets in the region, with President Donald Trump regularly threatening renewed strikes against Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major shipping lane that connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, and the US government describes it as the “world’s most important oil chokepoint” due to its strategic location. The area has historically been subject to geopolitical tensions, including the Tanker War between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.

In recent months, there have been no public threats by Iran or other parties to vessels in and around the Gulf. However, the US military has warned Tehran against “unsafe and unprofessional” behavior, and shot down an Iranian drone that approached one of its aircraft carriers in the area last year.

The guidelines also reference previous incidents, including sabotage attacks on ships in the UAE’s territorial waters in 2019. The US has previously seized Iranian oil tankers as part of its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran.

Negotiations between the US and Iran are currently focused on nuclear issues, with the Trump administration pushing for restrictions on uranium enrichment. However, details of these talks remain unclear.

Source: Al Jazeera