US Warns Ships To Avoid Iran Waters As Strait Of Hormuz Tensions Rise

The United States has put commercial vessels on alert in the Strait of Hormuz, telling American-flagged ships to keep their distance from Iranian waters as nuclear tensions between the two countries show no signs of cooling.

The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration released the advisory Monday, instructing ships to hug the far edge of the waterway and avoid straying near Iran’s territorial boundary.

“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 guidance stated.

Crews received specific instructions on how to handle a potential Iranian boarding attempt, decline verbally but don’t fight back physically if Iranian forces push through anyway.

“If Iranian forces board a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel, the crew should not forcibly resist the boarding party,” it added.

Iran has a history of seizing ships moving through the Strait, accusing them of smuggling. Tehran has also threatened to shut down the waterway entirely during previous standoffs, a move that would send oil prices soaring, given how much of the world’s energy supply flows through the narrow passage.

Naija News gathered that Iran’s foreign minister struck a cautiously hopeful tone Friday, saying nuclear talks brokered by Oman got off to a promising start and would continue, offering markets and diplomats some reassurance that neither side has walked away from the table yet.

Trump Squeezes Iran With Fresh Tariffs

The two countries want different things from these talks. Washington wants to discuss Iran’s ballistic missile program, its backing of armed groups across the region, and human rights alongside the nuclear issues. Tehran, however, has refused to budge beyond nuclear issues.

President Donald Trump turned up the heat Friday, signing an executive order hitting any country that buys Iranian goods “directly or indirectly” with a 25 per cent tariff, following through on a threat he made last month.

Trump is clearly running a two-track strategy: keep diplomacy moving while tightening the economic vice. Whether Tehran responds by staying at the table or walking away remains the big question hanging over the region.