Feb 9 (Reuters) – The United States on Monday issued new guidance for commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for Middle East oil supplies amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, part of which lies within its territorial waters, and has sometimes seized commercial ships and oil tankers passing through the area, accusing them of smuggling.
According to the guidance, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration recommends that U.S.-flagged merchant ships stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible and verbally deny permission to board ships when Iranian forces request it.
“US-flagged commercial vessels transiting these waters are advised to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible without compromising the safety of navigation,” according to guidance posted on its website.
It also said crew members should not forcibly resist Iranian forces if they boarded the ship.
“If Iranian forces board a U.S.-flagged merchant ship, crew members should not forcibly resist boarding personnel,” the statement said.
Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that Oman-mediated nuclear talks with the United States are off to a good start and will continue, comments that could help ease concerns that failure to reach a deal could bring the Middle East closer to war.
While both sides have expressed a willingness to restart diplomacy on Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Washington has said it also wants the talks to cover issues such as Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region and human rights.
U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up pressure on Iran on Friday, issuing an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on any country buying goods “directly or indirectly” from Iran, making good on a threat he issued last month.
(Reporting by Richard Valdemanis; Editing by Nick Ziminski)