Brussels 28.02.2026 The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration called on US-flagged commercial vessels to keep clear of the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters amid the ongoing of the significant military escalation in the region.
This will affect the entire world including Pakistan as oil prices will skyrocket globally as Iran officially declares the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The global oil trade is blocked.— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) February 28, 2026
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In a maritime alert issued, the department said military operations began on Feburary 28 in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, warning of potential retaliatory strikes by Tehran.
If Iran can maintain this closure of the Hormuz Strait, all bets are off.
About 26% of the planets crude oil goes through the Strait, along with 23% of liquified natural gas (LNG) and 31% of liquified petroleum gas pic.twitter.com/CQV3LPI0lA
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) February 28, 2026
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“It is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the advisory said.
BREAKING: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is closing the strait of Hormuz and is turning vessels around.
This threatens 20% of the world’s oil.
Trump’s Operation Epic Fury is about to make inflation spike.
Is this what you voted for? pic.twitter.com/XxRbwHrfDp
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) February 28, 2026
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It noted that “any U.S.-flagged, owned, or crewed commercial vessels that are operating in these areas should maintain a standoff of 30 nautical miles from U.S. military vessels to reduce the risk of being mistaken as a threat.”
⚡️A Turkish ship, “Bogazici,” changed its AIS signal in the Strait of Hormuz to “MUSLIMS VSL TURKISH,” apparently signaling to the IRGC:
“We are a Muslim Turkish vessel — do not fire.”
Source: AuroraIntel pic.twitter.com/HYYEmV5vWx
— The World Times (@worldtimes4u) February 28, 2026
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The advisory, which is set to expire on March 7, also strongly encouraged ships to maintain close contact with Naval Forces Central Command’s Naval Coordination and Guidance for Shipping and to review the latest advisories from the UK Maritime Trade Operations and the Joint Maritime Information Center.
It further advised mariners to implement risk mitigation measures outlined in U.S. Maritime Advisory 2026-001 concerning potential Iranian boarding, detention or seizure incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
The advice comes after Israel and the U.S. launched an attack against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the “Iranian regime.”
The attacks came as talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program had been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.
Israel also initiated a 12-day war on Iran last June, with the US joining later and bombing three Iranian nuclear sites.
📍 Iran moved to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route, escalating its retaliation against joint US-Israeli military strikes
🛢️ The chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman carries about 20% of global oil, threatening major energy… pic.twitter.com/rLoZUo1waA
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026
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