Both the United States and the United Kingdom issued warnings of an increased risk to commercial shipping near Iranian waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Maritime Security Construct, a US-led coalition of nations that provides security in the vital waterway, said in a statement that it advises ships to transit as far away from Iran’s territorial waters as possible. It said it has “notified regional sailors of appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions.”
The Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is a strategic waterway for oil traffic, including exports from key producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Iran has seized a handful of tankers in recent months after a tanker full of Iranian crude was detained by the US under a court order.
UK Merchant Marine Operations, a division of the country’s navy, also issued a warning over the weekend that there is a growing threat in the vicinity of the strait.
“All vessels in transit are advised to exercise caution,” the advisory said.
–With the help of Serene Cheong.
