Iran to Announce New Maritime 'Exclusion Zone' Outside Strait of Hormuz

Tehran: Iran has announced plans to establish a new maritime "exclusion zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions along one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes.

Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that the restricted area will be formally declared in the coming days and weeks. According to Rezaei, the proposed perimeter will extend from the perimeter of the current US naval blockade toward the Strait of Hormuz and push directly into the Persian Gulf.

"Any vessel that enters this area with the intention of passing through the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list," Rezaei warned, emphasizing that Tehran considers the waterway under the complete control of its armed forces.

The move follows a fresh wave of military actions in the region. American forces recently struck three Iranian oil tankers after Tehran launched ballistic missiles targeting US warships. US defense officials report that over 20 warships are enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, having redirected 92 commercial vessels and disabled three others to exert economic pressure on Tehran.

The announcement highlights the unraveling of diplomatic channels following the collapse of a mid-June memorandum of understanding mediated by regional actors. With both nations exchanging strikes, the strategic choke point remains the primary flashpoint in the ongoing conflict.