The Revolutionary Guards warned international ships to maintain a distance of at least 10 miles from US warships in the Strait of Hormuz, following yesterday’s tensions and clashes in the region. The warning was issued through the radio channel used by commercial and international ships for emergency communications, with a Revolutionary Guard Navy spokesperson stating they might need to “teach the Yankees a lesson” using missiles and drones. This development comes during a period of increased military activity in the Persian Gulf, intensifying concerns about a new escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States in the broader region.
A shipping industry source told CNN that on Thursday “the Iranians called all ships in the northern part of the Strait to move close to Dubai, which they all did,” adding that there was “heavy gunfire” in that maritime area that day.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz “remains significantly reduced,” reported the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), with several new security-related incidents reported “in the last 48 hours.” UKMTO emphasized that operations in the area remain “high risk due to recent attacks on ships,” adding that “the blockade enforcement continues.”
Another source from Iran’s shipping industry told CNN that the chances of a “successful friendly resolution to this conflict” remain minimal. “We have some concerns that war could start soon,” the same source added.
US: Blocked over 70 ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports
US Central Command announced today that more than 70 ships have been prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports as part of the American blockade.
“More than 70 tankers are currently being blocked by US forces from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” US Central Command stated in a post on X. “These commercial vessels have the capacity to carry over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil, worth approximately $13 billion,” they added.
Central Command reported that more than 50 ships have been redirected.
