United States; Iran: The US military has forced 99 commercial vessels to change course in the Gulf region as it enforces its blockade of Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday in a social media post.
A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter prepares to land on the flight deck aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4). Boxer is the flagship for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group / 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which continues to enforce the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Sept. 11, U.S. forces… pic.twitter.com/643z7veWJl
Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said foreign ministers from Gulf littoral states are scheduled to meet in Oman on Monday to exchange views on regional issues, including talks between Iran and Oman on designating safe routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the meeting will be attended by Iran, Iraq and other Gulf littoral states, adding that he hoped it would prepare the ground for improving understanding among regional countries and contributing to joint regional security.
A day earlier, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said in a notice that maritime security conditions in the Middle East remained tense, with the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz still rated as "severe".
The notice also warned of a high likelihood of attacks on vessels amid the current security situation.