Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Sep 7: Iran will announce a new restricted maritime zone around the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the Persian Gulf in the coming days, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said, in a move that could further escalate tensions in the strategically vital waterway.
Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the new zone would extend from the line of the US naval blockade and include parts of the Persian Gulf. He warned that any vessel entering the zone would be placed on Iran’s sanctions list.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with Washington maintaining a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports and Tehran continuing to assert control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil supplies. The latest Iranian warning has raised concerns among shipping and energy markets about further disruption to commercial maritime traffic.
Reuters reported on Monday that oil prices had risen amid the escalating maritime tensions, with tanker traffic through the Strait falling sharply as concerns over prolonged disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies increased.
Iran’s announcement also comes after a series of recent confrontations involving Iranian and US forces and commercial vessels in and around the waterway. The United States has targeted Iranian oil tankers, while Iran has threatened stronger action against vessels using routes it considers unauthorised.
Rezaei said vessels seeking to enter the restricted area would face sanctions, adding another layer of restrictions to an already tense maritime environment. Details of the exact boundaries of the proposed zone and how the restrictions will be enforced have not yet been fully disclosed.
The development is being closely watched by the international shipping and energy industries because any prolonged restriction around the Strait of Hormuz could have wider implications for global oil supplies, freight movements and energy prices.