Iran Preparing for Attack? British Navy Warns of Activity in Persian Gulf

The British Navy's trade monitoring department issued an unusual notice to merchant and shipping vessels, following the identification of military preparations in the Persian Gulf region, and warned of tensions that could escalate to military action.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) department of the British Royal Navy published an unusual warning today (Tuesday) to maritime vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz region, calling for increased caution and to report any unusual activity or incidents.

The notice stated that "UKMTO has recently been informed that increased regional tensions could lead to escalation in military activity, which will directly affect freedom of navigation." The warning comes against the backdrop of concerns about sudden security deterioration, apparently following the identification of military preparations by Iranian forces in the region.

The British warning joins various intelligence reports in Europe and the US, pointing to unusual movements of Iranian forces in the region, alongside an increase in aggressive rhetoric from senior officials in Tehran.

The British Navy called on all commercial ships in the region to maintain high alertness and maintain direct and continuous contact with maritime reporting systems. "Caution may prevent serious incidents," was written at the end of the warning.