Tehran Takes Control: Iran Establishes Restricted Zone Near Strategic Strait
Iran plans to establish a 'restricted zone' near the Strait of Hormuz within days, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The restricted zone will span from where the US blockade of Iran begins to other areas of the Gulf, and any ship that enters this area with the intention of passing through the strait will be placed on a sanctions list, said Rezaei.
Iran will also release maps of a new shipping corridor through the strait, which is a critical chokepoint for global oil trade. About one-fifth of the world's oil passed through this area during peacetime.
The announcement comes as Iran faces economic disaster, with its fuel reserves dwindling to a two-month supply following months of US bombing campaigns and economic sanctions.