WANA (May 30) – The U.S. Navy has issued a warning to commercial vessels against approaching the Strait of Hormuz, in what has been described as another escalatory move by Washington in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

 

On Friday, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) released an urgent maritime advisory warning ship owners, operators, and mariners about what it described as “ongoing hazardous military operations” in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

According to the advisory, the operations are taking place north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, in the middle of the strategic waterway.

 

In a notice issued by the Joint Maritime Information Center and dated May 29, the threat level in the area was classified as “CRITICAL.”

 

The statement alleged that Iran is attempting to exert “unlawful control” over the strategic waterway through what it described as “dangerous and illegal mine-laying activities,” claiming that such actions pose a risk to vessels and their crews.

 

The advisory urged all mariners to avoid the Strait of Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme and instead coordinate their transit with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Liaison Office.

 

Vessels were also instructed to maintain continuous radio contact with U.S. naval authorities and to comply immediately with any instructions issued by American forces.

 

In the final section of the advisory, the U.S. military warned that any vessel observed conducting mine-laying operations or supporting such activities could be targeted by U.S. forces under what it described as the right of “self-defense.”

 

The warning comes amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf region. Meanwhile, the Persian Gulf Waterway Management Authority (PGSA) stated that despite what it described as U.S. provocations in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, it continues to process and approve transit requests for non-hostile vessels without interruption in order to facilitate maritime navigation.