Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between Iran and Oman, has caused a spike in worldwide fuel prices and rattled the global economy, Al Jazeera reports.

The US-led Joint Maritime Information Centre is advising stranded ships to cross the Hormuz Strait in Oman’s waters, saying it has set up an “enhanced security area”.

However, the semi-official Fars news agency reports that two commercial vessels attempting to traverse the sea route are now stuck.

“The waters near the coast of Oman are rocky, and the vessels are unable to leave or return from this part,” Fars quoted an unnamed “informed source” as saying.

“The southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz — near the two islands of Musandam and al-Khail — does not have the geographical ability to become a maritime corridor, and the passage of vessels through the rocky and shallow southern areas is very risky,” Fars reports.