Western Naval Forces Warn Commercial Ships: Stay Away from Iranian Territorial Waters

Western-backed naval forces in the Middle East, led by the United States, warned ships intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, August 12, to stay as far away as possible from Iranian territorial waters due to the risk of being seized by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic. The Associated Press reported that the timing of this warning coincides with a potential agreement between Iran and the U.S. regarding the release of five American citizens in exchange for the release of six billion dollars of Iran's frozen assets in South Korea, indicating a high level of tensions between the two countries in the region's waters. In recent days, the Associated Press reported, citing five U.S. military officials, that the U.S. military is considering deploying its soldiers on commercial ships while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, confirmed the issuance of this warning but refrained from providing details. According to Mr. Hawkins, the U.S.-backed maritime group known as the 'International Maritime Security Structure' has warned sailors in the region to take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of seizure amid ongoing tensions 'which we are seeking to reduce.' He added, 'Ships are advised to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible.' A European-led maritime organization also separately warned of 'the possibility of an attack on a commercial ship flying an unspecified country's flag in the Strait of Hormuz within the next 12 to 72 hours.' The 'European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz' organization reminded in its warning that 'previously, following a similar warning, a commercial ship was seized by Iranian authorities under false pretenses.' Iranian state media have not reacted to this news, and the Islamic Republic's representative office did not respond to the Associated Press's inquiries in this regard. Since 2019, the Islamic Republic has conducted multiple attacks against commercial ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. In late April of this year, Iran seized a Chevron oil tanker and, in early May of the same year, another tanker named 'Newvi.' Following the increase in Iran's provocative actions in the region's waters, the U.S. has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East by sending destroyers and bombers to the area. Islamic Republic officials have criticized this U.S. action. Nevertheless, there has been no change in Tehran's provocative policies in this region.