U.S. Issues Advisory Warning for Ships to Avoid Iran Waters

(MENAFN) American commercial ships flying the US flag received an urgent warning Monday to steer clear of Iranian territorial boundaries in the Persian Gulf, according to a maritime security alert issued by the US Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration.

The directive, valid until Aug. 8, instructs vessel operators to maximize distance from Iran's maritime borders while maintaining safe navigation practices. "It is recommended that US-flagged commercial vessels transiting these waters remain as far as possible from Iran's territorial sea without compromising navigational safety," the advisory noted.

For ships traveling eastward through the Strait of Hormuz, the Maritime Administration specifically advises routing closer to Oman's coastline. Vessels should "transit close to Oman's territorial sea" to reduce exposure to potential threats, according to the guidance.

The agency highlighted persistent dangers facing maritime traffic in the critical waterway. "Commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman have long been at risk of being hailed, queried, boarded, detained, or seized by Iranian forces," the Maritime Administration said.

Should Iranian naval or paramilitary units make contact, ship captains should identify their vessel name and flag registration while asserting passage under international maritime law. The guidance urges masters to refuse boarding requests when safely possible, citing Law of the Sea Convention protections—though crews must avoid physical resistance if Iranian forces board anyway.

The alert stresses keeping Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders actively broadcasting, noting that "some vessel seizures by Iranian forces were claimed to be a result of vessels not transmitting on AIS."

The warning coincides with Washington's dramatic military buildup across the region as tensions with Tehran intensify.

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