Washington, Feb. 10 -- The United States has rolled out updated navigational instructions for US-flagged commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, urging ships to steer clear of Iran's territorial waters as tensions persist between Washington and Tehran.

The guidance, issued on Monday by the US Maritime Administration, also cautioned American ship captains against allowing Iranian forces to board US-registered vessels while operating in the strategically sensitive waterway.

"If Iranian forces board a US-flagged commercial vessel, the crew should not forcibly resist the boarding party. Refraining from forcible resistance does not imply consent or agreement to that boarding," the advisory said.

"It is recommended that US-f...