Iran says it will act against vessels beyond Strait of Hormuz

Iran is planning to create a "restricted zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz within days, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. This move follows a recent escalation where the US attacked three Iranian oil tankers and Iran retaliated by hitting American warships. Rezaei stated that the zone would start at the US blockade line and extend into parts of the Gulf, with any vessel entering it facing addition to a sanctions list.

The Iranian leader also announced that Iran and Oman have agreed on a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, though specifics on the zone's boundaries and enforcement mechanisms were not provided. He emphasized that Iran would only commit to keeping the Strait open when the US stops its sabotage, threats, and attacks on Iran.

An analysis of the proposed zone suggests it could potentially extend Iranian control over vessels entering the Gulf of Oman. However, the lack of official maritime charts and unclear enforcement mechanisms leaves the scope of Iran's potential actions uncertain. The aim appears to be creating uncertainty around access to the Gulf, thereby increasing risks for shipowners, insurers, and traders while maintaining the claim that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for naval traffic.

Recent traffic through the waterway has dropped significantly, with an average of around 10 commodity ships crossing daily over the past 10 days, the lowest level since May. This development comes after the US struck three Iranian oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island, in response to attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on American warships.

Recently, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the era of "proportional responses" had ended, vowing future attacks on Iranian interests would incur a "faster, heavier, and more painful" response.