The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note on Wednesday that it was aware of increased tensions in the Middle East which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.
The UKMTO advised vessels to use caution when passing through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz © Mena Today
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note on Wednesday that it was aware of increased tensions in the Middle East which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.
The UKMTO advised vessels to use caution when passing through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz.
The UKMTO, which gathers reports on threats to shipping, did not specify the nature of the increase in tensions that prompted its alert.
The United States and Iran are expected to hold a round of talks this week on Iran's nuclear programme. Washington has threatened to take military action if the talks fail, and Iran said on Wednesday it could strike US bases in the region if conflict arises.
Reporting by Ahmed Elimam and Elwely Elwelly
The U.N. nuclear watchdog's board of governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations on Thursday and Tehran announced counter-measures, as an Iranian official said a "friendly country" had warned it of a potential Israeli attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday U.S. personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Syria's Islamist-led government has said women should wear burkinis or other swimwear that covers the body on public beaches, though an official denied there was any ban on Western beachwear and said the decision was misunderstood.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.