Iran says it will act against vessels beyond Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced plans to establish a "restricted zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz, following a recent escalation in which the US attacked three Iranian oil tankers and Iran retaliated by striking American warships. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that the zone would begin at the US blockade line and extend into parts of the Gulf.

If any vessel enters this new zone, it would be added to a sanctions list. Rezaei also confirmed an agreement between Iran and Oman on a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, though no specific details were provided. The proposed zone, which would involve Iranian and Omani management, is still under discussion and has not yet been published.

Rezaei emphasized that Iran would only commit to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open once the US stops its sabotage, threats, and attacks on Iran. The potential zone could extend Iranian oversight to vessels entering the Gulf of Oman, though the exact boundaries remain unclear. The aim of this move is to create uncertainty around access to the Gulf, increasing risks for shipowners, insurers, and traders while maintaining Iran's claim that the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

Traffic through the waterway has significantly decreased, averaging about 10 commodity ships per day over the past 10 days, the lowest level since May.