Iran Announces Exclusion Zone in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions with US

The tensions between Iran and the US are escalating as Tehran plans to announce an exclusion zone in the Strait of Hormuz, which would run from the US naval blockade to the Persian Gulf. The move comes after a top Iranian official said that vessels attempting to transit the waterway without permission would be subject to restrictions.

The announcement is seen as a response to recent US actions, including the strike on three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Tehran launching ballistic missiles at US warships. The move has been described by experts as a dangerous escalation after previous attacks targeted commercial shipping.

In a separate development, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed seven people and leveled an empty hospital near an area that has become a flash point in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.