Iran Stops 6 Ships Attempting to Take Alternative Route in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced that it stopped 6 ships attempting to take an alternative route in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, instead of the officially designated route. According to Iranian officials, one of the ships was involved in an accident, while the other five were forced to return to the Persian Gulf. An unnamed Iranian official told state television that the ships had turned off their tracking and identification systems in an attempt to deviate from Iran's designated route.