Iran Establishes New Restricted Zone in Gulf Amid Ongoing Tensions

Tehran is planning to establish a new restricted zone in the Gulf, which will include parts of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy corridors. The move comes as shipping traffic through the strait has plummeted, with an average of only 10 commodity ships passing through per day over the past 10 days.

The restricted zone will reportedly start where Tehran describes the US blockade of Iran begins and extend into parts of the Gulf. Any ship entering this zone will be added to a sanctions list, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

Iran has also agreed on maps for a new international shipping corridor with Oman and expects these to be signed soon. This new route will pass through Iranian and Omani waters, with Tehran set to have management control.

The US has continued its blockade aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports, which has disrupted flows from Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub. The US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that despite this, oil continues to move through Hormuz, averaging over 9 million barrels per day, but at roughly two-thirds of pre-conflict levels.