Iranian navy tells merchant ships to avoid unsafe Hormuz zones

TEHRAN — The Iranian navy has directed all commercial ships to avoid entering unsafe zones in the Strait of Hormuz and not to switch off their onboard systems, according to a breaking-news post on Telegram by Al Jazeera Arabic on 31 October 2026. The post was published at 17:02 GMT.

The post carried a single line, attributed to the navy, and did not give further details. It did not say which areas the navy considers unsafe, how long the instruction would apply, or what action it would take against ships that did not comply. It also did not say when or why the navy issued the warning.

Al Jazeera Arabic's Telegram channel is a social media post and the wording is unverified. The source material contains no statement from the Iranian navy, the Iranian government or another news outlet confirming the instruction. The text is therefore reported as a claim by the channel, not as established fact.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, and it links the Gulf to the open sea. Ships that carry oil and goods from Gulf ports pass through it. An instruction to avoid specific areas, if confirmed, could affect how those vessels route and operate. The source does not say whether any ships have been affected or whether any shipping company has changed its plans.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil. Iran lies on its northern shore. The source material does not describe any earlier incident, dispute or legal framework that led to this instruction, and this report does not add details beyond the post.

What happens next

The source material does not say whether the navy will publish a formal notice, whether other Iranian authorities will comment, or whether foreign governments or shipping operators will respond. Further official statements on the zones and the instruction are awaited.