Amid the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, maritime forces supported by Western nations in the Middle East have issued a stern warning to ships navigating through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Shippers have been strongly advised to keep a considerable distance from Iranian territorial waters to prevent potential seizure, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

This advisory follows a similar caution issued earlier this year after Iran captured two tankers near the strait, which serves as the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf and a crucial route for 20% of the world's oil.

Despite the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S., which seem to be progressing towards a resolution involving the release of detained Iranian-Americans in exchange for unfreezing Iranian assets in South Korea, this warning underscores the lingering tensions in the maritime domain. The United States is even considering deploying armed personnel on commercial ships in the strait as a deterrent against Iran, as a precautionary measure alongside the increased presence of troops, vessels, and aircraft in the area.

While U.S. Navy Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, spokesperson for the Mideast-based 5th Fleet, acknowledged the issuance of the warning, he refrained from providing specific details about its content.

The International Maritime Security Construct, a maritime group supported by the U.S., is actively communicating with regional mariners to promote appropriate precautions that can minimize the risk of seizure, taking into account the current heightened tensions in the region. The aim is to de-escalate the situation by advising vessels to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible.

In a separate development, an EU-led maritime organization responsible for monitoring shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has issued a warning concerning a potential attack on an unidentified merchant vessel within the next 12 to 72 hours, according to private intelligence firm Ambrey.

The intelligence firm noted, "In the past, a merchant vessel was seized by Iranian authorities following a similar warning issued under false pretenses."

The mission led by the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz, which oversees maritime activities in the region, has not responded to requests for comments.

Shortly afterward, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an entity associated with the British military that provides alerts to sailors in the Persian Gulf, issued its own advisory.

The UKMTO's notice cautioned that there is an increased threat in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and urged all transiting vessels to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities to UKMTO.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency referenced this AP report without citing any Iranian officials. The Iranian mission to the United Nations has not responded to inquiries seeking comment.

The Strait of Hormuz is located within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, with its narrowest point measuring just 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide. The shipping lane's width in each direction is a mere 3 kilometers (2 miles). Any disruption in this passage has global implications for energy markets, potentially leading to a rise in crude oil prices, which then filters down to consumers, affecting the costs of gasoline and other oil-related products.
Since 2019, there has been a series of ship attacks attributed to Iran, following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the subsequent re-imposition of severe sanctions on Tehran during the Trump administration.

These incidents resumed in late April when Iran seized a vessel transporting oil for Chevron Corp., and in May, another tanker named the Niovi was also captured.

These recent seizures coincide with the presence of the Marshall Island-flagged Suez Rajan off Houston, potentially waiting to offload Iranian oil subject to sanctions, apparently seized by the U.S.

These seizures prompted a substantial U.S. military deployment in the region, including the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors on vessels like the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, and the USS Carter Hall, a landing ship. Images released by the Navy show the Bataan and Carter Hall in the Red Sea as of Tuesday.