Turkey warns countries not to pass warships through straits

Turkey's foreign minister said that Ankara has warned both Black Sea and non-Black Sea countries not to pass warships through its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.

"We implemented what Montreux says, and we will do so from now on. There has been no request for passage through the straits until today," Mevlut Cavusoglu said, according to the state news agency Anadolu.

The 1936 Montreux Convention allows Turkey to limit naval transit of its straits during wartime but has a clause exempting ships returning to their registered base.

At least four Russian ships are currently waiting on Turkey's decision to let them cross the straits.