Iran says ‘prohibited zone’ near Hormuz to cover parts of Gulf of Oman and beyond

Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday the establishment of a new "prohibited zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz, extending into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The zone, which is yet to be precisely delineated, was revealed by Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi during a televised address.

According to Mohebi, vessels entering the restricted area without prior coordination would be subject to sanctions. This move comes in response to Iran's ongoing restrictions on maritime traffic through Hormuz, a crucial energy transportation route, since the beginning of the U.S.-Iran conflict on February 28. The U.S. has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports, and Tehran has required ships to obtain permission for transit, signaling an end to the pre-war unrestricted navigation.

In the past week, Iranian forces reportedly intercepted ten vessels attempting to bypass Hormuz without authorization. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that American forces have aided in the passage of an average of thirty ships per night. However, Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, alleged that the U.S. assists around five or six ships nightly, with most of them ultimately being intercepted.

Mohebi suggested that the ongoing war with the United States could potentially conclude if Washington discontinues its threats, withdraws Israeli forces from Lebanon, lifts the blockade on Yemen (administered by Houthi rebels backed by Saudi Arabia), releases $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and refrains from interfering with Iran's nuclear and missile programs.