The US military has warned that vessels not needing to travel between ports in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz should stay away due to rising tensions in the area.
According to the US Naval Forces Central Command, ships that do not have to pass through this region are advised to keep a safe distance to avoid delays. This warning was issued on Wednesday via the Joint Maritime Information Center.
The advisory also stated that vessels passing through this area should plan for additional travel time due to increased traffic and military enforcement actions.
It is still unclear what triggered this latest advisory. The US military released a similar warning in mid-July when it began blocking Iranian shipping, though they assured that neutral passage through Hormuz would not be stopped, warning that ships might be questioned about their intentions.
In recent months, traffic through this critical area has increased, with shuttle tankers carrying crude oil making frequent trips between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Some tankers waiting in the Gulf of Oman prefer to avoid risks associated with the Strait.
Many crude tankers willing to take that risk have helped oil flows from the Persian Gulf return to nearly pre-war levels, while the US blockade has significantly reduced Iranian crude exports. Meanwhile, Iran has intensified its attacks on ships, reaching a peak of almost 30 incidents in October.
The latest US advisory mentioned that neutral vessels with neutral cargo or those sailing in ballast between these ports may face questioning, inspections, and searches to verify their intentions regarding the blockade.