Iran to Declare New Restricted Zone Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it will establish a new restricted maritime zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, with the measure expected to cover parts of the Gulf and affect vessels attempting to enter the designated area.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the restricted zone would begin along the line of what Tehran describes as a US Navy blockade and extend into parts of the Gulf.

According to Iranian state media, vessels entering the newly designated area would be placed on Iran's sanctions list.

Rezaei also said Iran and Oman had reached an agreement on maps identifying routes for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. The agreed maps are expected to be formally signed and announced in the coming days.

"The new international corridor that Iran manages has been determined with the Omani brothers and will be announced in the coming days," Rezaei was quoted as saying by state media.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the strategically important waterway, through which a significant share of the world's energy supplies passes.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that continued military pressure or attacks against the country could trigger further retaliation.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf separately warned that any further attacks would result in what he described as a "faster, heavier and more painful response".

The proposed restricted zone and new shipping corridor could add further uncertainty for commercial vessels operating around the Strait of Hormuz, particularly as Iran and the United States remain at odds over control of maritime traffic in the region.

The Strait, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, remains one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.