Iran Threatens US with Economic Warfare and Persian Gulf Exclusion Zone

Iran has threatened the United States with 'economic warfare' and a new Persian Gulf exclusion zone, escalating tensions in their six-month-old conflict. The threats come after US forces struck Iranian targets on Saturday, hitting three oil tankers.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the restricted maritime area would begin where the US blockade of Iran starts and extend into the Gulf. He warned that vessels entering the zone would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.

Rezaei appeared to be referring to the Qassem Basir ballistic missile, which Iranian media said had been launched at US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said its vessels had evaded missile attacks.