US officials warn of Iranian threats to commercial vessels

Iran has been using GPS jammers to try and “spoof” commercial vessels into traveling through Iranian waters so they can seize them, according to federal officials

The US Maritime Administration issued a new warning Wednesday for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman — urging them to be wary.

“Heightened military activity and increased political tensions in this region continue to pose serious threats to commercial vessels,” said MARAD officials. “Associated with these threats is a potential for miscalculation or misidentification that could lead to aggressive actions. Vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman may also encounter GPS interference, bridge-to-bridge communications spoofing, and/or other communications jamming with little to no warning.”

At least two incidents of GPS interference were reported recently — with one vessel shutting off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) before it was seized, “complicating response efforts.”

“Vessels have also reported spoofed bridge-to-bridge communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or coalition warships,” added MARAD officials.

A source told CNN that Iran was placing the GPS jammers on its military-controlled Abu Musa Island, which lies outside the Strait of Hormuz.

The US has accused Iran of shooting down a US unmanned surveillance drone and attacking at least two oil tankers belonging to Japan and Norway in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz.

In recent months, the Trump administration has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, B-52 bombers, jet fighters and Patriot anti-missile batteries to Qatar to counter Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region.

President Trump ordered a military strike against the country back in June — and then called it off last minute — in retaliation for downing of the US drone.

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