Iran Tightens Grip on Hormuz, Declares New Maritime Exclusion Zone
TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the establishment of a new “prohibited zone” outside the Strait of Hormuz, covering parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and warned that vessels entering the area without prior coordination could face sanctions.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi told Iranian state television on Wednesday that the restricted area would roughly begin in the direction of Chabahar, extending across parts of the Sea of Oman and Arabian Sea along a route leading toward the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohebi said Iranian authorities would announce the exact coordinates of the prohibited zone at a later stage.
He warned that any vessel entering the designated area without coordination with Iranian authorities would be subject to punitive measures. Such measures, he said, could affect the vessel’s ability to use the Strait of Hormuz or access related services in the future.
“If a vessel enters that area without coordination, it will be subject to our sanctions,” Mohebi said, adding that Iran could refuse to provide services such as insurance and other facilities to vessels that violate the restrictions.
The announcement comes as Iran and Oman have reportedly made “significant progress” in talks over the establishment of a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries are strategically located along the vital waterway.
Iranian forces have restricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war with the United States on February 28, while Washington has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Tehran has insisted that vessels seeking to pass through the strategic waterway must obtain permission from Iranian authorities, making clear that the pre-war system of unrestricted navigation will not immediately return.
Iranian forces said on Tuesday that they had struck 10 vessels that attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz without coordinating with Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has claimed in recent days that American forces have helped facilitate the passage of ships through the strategic waterway, with around 30 vessels reportedly passing through each night.
Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, disputed the US claim, saying Washington attempts to help five or six vessels cross the strait every night and that most of those ships are subsequently targeted.
Mohebi also outlined conditions under which Iran says the war with the United States could come to an end.
He said Washington would have to halt what he described as renewed threats against Iran, withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon and end the blockade of Yemen.
He further demanded that the United States release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets and refrain from interfering in Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes and a major corridor for global energy shipments. Any further restrictions or military escalation in the area could have significant implications for international shipping, energy markets and regional security.
