US advises avoiding Iranian waters in the Strait of Hormuz…steps up warnings for US-flagged vessels

The US government has advised US-flagged vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to avoid Iranian waters. With recent incidents involving threats to ships by Iran, concerns over maritime security are resurfacing.

According to Walter Bloomberg on the 9th (local time), the US government said in a recent notice that US-flagged ships should refrain from approaching Iran’s territorial waters when passing through the Strait of Hormuz and instead sail near Omani waters. The guidance follows an incident last week in which a merchant vessel was threatened by Iranian forces.

US authorities said Iran’s navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have applied pressure by using small boats and helicopters to stop vessels or force them into Iran’s territorial waters. The most recent case reportedly occurred on Feb. 3, 2026.

The US is recommending that ships keep routes as far away from Iranian waters as possible and sail along waters near Oman. The measure is aimed at ensuring vessel safety and minimizing the risk of accidental clashes.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which a substantial share of the world’s seaborne crude oil flows, and tensions in the area directly affect international energy markets and geopolitical risk.

The US said it will continue to monitor navigational safety in the area in coordination with allies and the shipping industry.