By Gao Yun
As tensions between the United States and Iran over nuclear issues continue to rise, Washington on Monday, Feb. 9 issued updated navigation guidance for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a critical oil transportation corridor in the Middle East, with parts of its waters lying within Iran’s territorial seas.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and, on allegations of smuggling, has intercepted or even seized commercial ships and oil tankers passing through the region.
Guidance released on the website of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration advises U.S.-flagged commercial vessels to keep as far away as possible from Iranian territorial waters and to avoid approaching the area whenever safety permits.
If confronted with demands from Iranian military forces to board a vessel, crew members should verbally refuse but must not engage in forcible resistance. The guidance states: “If Iranian forces forcibly board a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel, the crew should not engage in armed confrontation.”
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Iran’s foreign minister said last Friday that, with mediation by Oman, a new round of talks between Iran and the United States over the nuclear agreement had “gotten off to a good start” and would continue. This statement has, to some extent, eased concerns that the situation in the Middle East could slide toward war.
Although both sides claim to be willing to resume diplomatic engagement, U.S. officials emphasize that negotiations should not be limited to Iran’s nuclear program, but should also address its ballistic missile program, support for armed groups in the Middle East, and human rights issues.
On the same day, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on products manufactured by countries that import goods from Iran “directly or indirectly,” fulfilling a previous threat and further increasing economic pressure on Iran.
Iran steps up crackdown on reformists
According to reports on Monday by Iranian media cited by Deutsche Welle, Iranian security forces have arrested several key figures in the reformist movement, including Azar Mansouri, a leader of the “Reform Front,” former diplomat Mohsen Aminzadeh, and Ebrahim Asgharzadeh.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA, citing a statement from the Tehran prosecutor’s office, reported that four individuals have been detained and several others summoned for questioning. They are accused of “organizing and planning activities that undermine national political and social stability,” at a time when military threats against Iran from the United States and Israel are intensifying.
The arrests followed a statement issued by reformists in January calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It remains unclear how much domestic support the reformist movement currently enjoys within Iran.
Meanwhile, imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison, drawing international attention.
In recent years, the Iranian government has repeatedly carried out bloody crackdowns on nationwide protests. Reports say that thousands of protesters have been killed by security forces, while tens of thousands more have been detained. Iranian authorities continue to suppress, with heavy-handed measures, any voices that question or oppose government violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit Washington later this week, during which Iran-related issues are expected to be a key topic of discussion.
