U.S. Warns Ships to Steer Clear of Iranian Waters

The U.S. has issued an urgent advisory for American ships to stay "as far as possible" from Iranian waters in the Strait of Hormuz, following recent boarding attempts by Iranian forces. The U.S. Maritime Administration warned ship captains to decline permission for Iranian forces to board U.S. vessels, citing incidents on February 3 where Iranian forces tried to force commercial vessels into Iranian waters. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil chokepoint, with about 13 million barrels of crude oil transiting through it daily, accounting for nearly a third of global seaborne crude flows. Any disruption would significantly impact global energy markets.