Iran Unveils Plans for Exclusion Zone Around Strategic Strait
Iran is set to announce an exclusion zone around the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days and weeks, according to Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei.
The proposed zone would begin at the line of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, extend towards the Strait of Hormuz, and continue into the Persian Gulf. Ships entering the area with the intention of passing through the strait and identified by Iran would be placed on its sanctions list.
This move is part of a broader escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, which has seen the US strike three Iranian oil tankers and Iran launch ballistic missiles towards US warships. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies.
The US military has said more than 20 warships are supporting its blockade of Iranian ports, with over 92 commercial vessels redirected and three disabled as part of efforts to prevent Iran from exporting oil. Rezaei also expressed scepticism about efforts to revive negotiations with Washington, saying Tehran is seeking stronger assurances before considering another diplomatic process.