Feb 9, 2026, 6:05 p.mFeb 9, 2026, 10:01 p.m
The US Department of Transportation warns American merchant ships of risks when transiting through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Iranian forces attempted to use small boats and helicopters to board merchant ships in Iranian territorial waters at the beginning of the month, the ministry said. Commercial ships have long been exposed to the risk of being “stopped, questioned, boarded, detained or confiscated” by Iranian security forces, it said.
If US merchant ships nevertheless pass through the waters, the ministry recommends passing close to Oman’s territorial waters and staying as far away as possible from Iranian territorial waters. The warning is valid until the beginning of August.
The so-called Strait of Hormuz is a strait between Iran and Oman. It is considered one of the most important shipping routes in the world. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), almost 30 percent of the world’s shipped oil was transported through the strait in 2023. Most of it went to China, India and other Asian countries. Around 20 percent of the world’s liquid gas trade also passes through the passage.
There is no central control authority like there is at the Suez Canal in Egypt. The tankers sail through the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. (hkl/sda/dpa)