Iran outlines Gulf exclusion zone after tanker strikes
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran plans to declare a new exclusion zone near the Strait of Hormuz after its forces targeted three oil tankers and three US-linked vessels in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian shipping, raising risks to commercial traffic through the Gulf. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the proposed zone would extend from what…
Iran is contemplating the establishment of an exclusion zone near the Strait of Hormuz in response to recent attacks on its oil tankers and US-linked vessels, potentially intensifying risks to maritime traffic in the Gulf. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced that the proposed zone would stretch from the US naval blockade line towards the Strait of Hormuz and into portions of the Persian Gulf, with vessels approaching the area for passage through the strait facing potential Iranian sanctions or other repercussions.
This announcement followed a significant escalation at sea over the weekend, as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claimed to have targeted three oil tankers navigating an "unauthorized route" through the Strait of Hormuz and three US-linked vessels elsewhere. The IRGC stated that these attacks occurred following US forces launching ballistic missiles at three Iranian oil tankers earlier that same day.
US Central Command clarified that the strikes were ordered after Iran launched ballistic missiles at American warships in the region, with no injuries reported among US personnel. Iran's naval force cautioned commercial vessels against traversing routes it deems unauthorized, threatening to target ships exhibiting suspicious behavior.
The specifics of the planned exclusion zone remain undisclosed, with Rezaei only announcing its announcement in the coming days and weeks, and the US blockade line's location not publicly defined. Washington asserts the presence of over 20 warships in support of its blockade operations against Iranian ports, with 92 commercial vessels redirected and three disabled.
Shipping traffic through Hormuz has plummeted, with Kpler data indicating an average of only 10 commodity vessels daily over the ten days leading up to Sunday, the lowest level since May, and only two vessels passing through on Saturday and six on Sunday, most utilizing the Iranian side of the waterway. Maritime intelligence firm Marisks deemed the weekend attacks a major escalation, warning of extreme risks for Iranian or Iran-linked tonnage and heightened risks for US-linked or US-escorted shipping.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations recorded 27 projectile strike incidents impacting vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since July 6, prompting shipowners and charterers to reconsider routing, insurance, and escort requirements. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that approximately 9 million barrels of oil daily pass through the strait, suggesting a substantial recovery of energy flows, though independent vessel-tracking data suggests lower traffic volumes, introducing ambiguity regarding commercial movement levels.
Iran maintains the ability to export between one million and 1.5 million barrels of oil daily, despite sanctions and the blockade, a claim that cannot be independently verified. On Sunday, Iran reported striking an unmanned US naval vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz, a claim rejected by the US military, which stated no such strike took place.
These confrontations occur as both sides vie for leverage over shipping and oil exports, with broader diplomatic efforts remaining stalled. Rezaei emphasized Iran's preference for diplomacy underpinned by enforceable guarantees, following earlier mediation efforts that failed to yield a lasting agreement.
Written by urgent.news from Arabian Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
