The US Central Command issued a caution to the Iranian populace on Wednesday, urging them to distance themselves from ports utilized by the Islamic Republic for launching assaults on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The command, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, emphasized in a statement that “civilian ports repurposed for military activities forfeit their protected status, rendering them valid military targets under international law.”

CENTCOM further advised, “Iranian dockworkers, administrative staff, and crews aboard commercial vessels should steer clear of Iranian naval vessels and military apparatus. Iranian naval forces have stationed military assets within civilian ports that accommodate commercial shipping.”

While noting that the US military cannot fully ensure civilian safety in or around facilities repurposed by the Iranian regime for military ends, American forces remain committed to taking all feasible measures to minimize civilian casualties.