Maritime warning issued after mine detected near Strait of Hormuz

Maritime authorities have issued a navigation warning after a mine was confirmed near a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit corridor, according to a notice circulated to vessels operating in the region.

The warning identified the mine at coordinates approximately 3 kilometres north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula and advised all ships transiting the area to exercise extreme caution, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The affected route has been widely used by commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, including cruise ships that departed the Persian Gulf earlier this year. In April, several cruise liners reportedly used Oman’s coastal waters to exit the region after disruptions linked to heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.

More than 100 tankers and dry cargo vessels are currently anchored near the Strait of Hormuz as ship operators monitor developments in the region.

The buildup of vessels had coincided with expectations that an agreement aimed at ending tensions between the United States and Iran could be signed on June 19. However, those expectations were cast into doubt after Switzerland's Foreign Ministry announced that planned U.S.-Iran talks scheduled to take place in the Swiss resort town of Bürgenstock on June 19 would not proceed.

By Sabina Mammadli