The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration updated its warning to American-flagged vessels to remain as far from Iran as possible when transiting the waterways off the country’s coasts to avoid being targeted by the regime’s navy.
Monday’s maritime adversary, which will extend until Aug. 8, comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, though the two sides began negotiations late last week to avoid a military confrontation.
Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman have long been at risk of being approached by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, which will often use small boats and helicopters in such missions.
“It is recommended that U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transiting these waters remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety,” the advisory said. “When transiting eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz, it is recommended that vessels transit close to Oman’s territorial sea.”
It’s an updated advisory — the previous one said there was “no specific threat to U.S.-flagged vessels in this location.”
If Iranian forces attempt to stop a U.S.-flagged vessel, the crew should state the vessel’s name and flag state, affirm that it is sailing in accordance with international law, and should, if the safety of the ship and crew would not be in jeopardy, not allow them to board the vessel, but also should not forcibly stop them from boarding if they proceed without approval, per the advisory.
Iran has used such tactics as recently as last week, seizing two foreign oil tankers accused of smuggling fuel in the Persian Gulf last Thursday. Earlier in the week, two Guard boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone harassed the M/V Stena Imperative, a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to board and seize the tanker. The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul responded to the incident and helped de-escalate the situation.
In a separate incident the same day, an Iranian drone “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent,” and U.S. forces ultimately shot it down, according to U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins.
The U.S. has a large military presence in the region, as the standoff between President Donald Trump and senior political leaders in Tehran continues amid efforts to reach a negotiated settlement. Trump initially threatened to attack Iran in defense of Iranian protesters, whom the government violently squashed, killing thousands.
The conversation surrounding last Friday’s negotiations did not focus on the protests, which have largely ended this time around, but centered on Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. wants to make a deal that also limits Iran’s ballistic missile capacity as well as its support for proxy forces in the region.
“The negotiations between Iran and the United States in Muscat concluded with an agreement between the two sides to continue the talks,” Esmaeil Baqaei, the spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday. “The parties, while explaining their perspectives and demands, reached an understanding to make decisions regarding the next round of talks in consultation with their capitals.”
IRAN THREATENS TO ATTACK US BASES ‘SPREAD ALL OVER’ REGION IF TRUMP ORDERS STRIKES
Trump, for his part, described the talks as “very good” on Friday.
Over the weekend, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the country would target U.S. bases in the region if the U.S. attacks. The U.S. has several military bases in the region, with tens of thousands of troops stationed there.
