A U.S. P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, equipped to detect submarines, mines, and small-boat swarms, has been circling near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of global seaborne oil.

Axar.az, citing Gulf News, reports that two P-8As departed from Sheikh Isa Air Base on Sunday, conducting surveillance over the Strait and Gulf of Oman.

Analysts describe the flights as “controlled escalation” to monitor Iranian submarine and missile activity while signaling U.S. military readiness.

This activity coincides with ongoing U.S.–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva and a broader U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, including fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and missile batteries.

Officials emphasize that the P-8’s mission is defensive intelligence and deterrence, aiming to maintain transparency in the Strait and reduce the risk of Iranian provocations without escalating to full-scale conflict.