An Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) speedboat sails near a cargo ship along the Persian Gulf.
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As tensions between the US and Iran remain high, US-flagged vessels are advised to stay “as far as possible” away from Iranian waters when navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
In a notice issued Monday, the U.S. Maritime Administration said the ship’s captain should deny permission to Iranian troops to board the U.S. vessel.
The most recent boarding attempt, which involved using small boats and helicopters to push commercial ships into Iranian territorial waters, occurred on February 3, according to an agency under the Ministry of Transport.
The notice states that if Iranian forces board a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel, the crew is advised not to “forcibly resist the occupants.” It added that refraining from forcible resistance does not imply consent or consent to such boarding.
The advisory advised ships sailing east through the Strait of Hormuz to remain close to the Omani side of the waterway.
The guidance follows a series of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Friday and focused on how to approach discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks were the first between the two countries since US bombers struck three Iranian nuclear facilities during the country’s 12-day war with Iran last June.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the meeting as a “step forward” but suggested it was the beginning of a longer diplomatic process rather than a path to a quick resolution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also told state media that the talks were a “good start”.
President Donald Trump said the Oman talks were “very good” and further meetings were planned, even as he warned Iran of “very serious” consequences if a deal is not reached.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss US-Iran talks. Israel, a close ally of the United States, has been lobbying the United States to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, curb its ballistic missile program and end support for regional armed groups.
The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, has been in the spotlight again this year after President Trump warned of possible military action against Tehran.
According to data from market intelligence Kpler, about 13 million barrels of crude oil per day passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, accounting for almost a third of the world’s offshore oil flows.
Any disruption to these flows would have ripple effects on the global energy market. Iran has threatened to close the strait during past conflicts, raising the possibility of oil prices rising.
