Iran to designate restricted maritime zone near Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it will soon publish the coordinates and boundaries of a restricted maritime zone, stretching from Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. An IRGC spokesperson stated that maritime, insurance, and logistical services would be suspended for any vessel entering these designated waters, including those attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the future.

This development occurs amidst ongoing exchanges of attacks on ships between Iran and the United States, which experts have described as a dangerous escalation. The conflict has significantly impacted maritime traffic, with vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz falling to their lowest level since May. A previous 60-day memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. expired last month due to disputes over control of the crucial waterway.

Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary, indicated that the new zone would commence from the U.S. Navy's blockade line and extend into the Persian Gulf, placing any ship entering it on Iran's sanctions list. He also mentioned that new maps detailing routes, developed in conjunction with Oman, would be approved and signed soon. This follows an agreement between Iran and Oman on a temporary maritime route for ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, with parts of the entry and exit routes falling within Iranian territorial waters.

The U.S. has rejected Iranian claims of an attack on a U.S. vessel, with US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins calling the account a 'total lie'. The recent escalation includes U.S. targeting of Iranian oil tankers and Iran's actions against tankers and U.S. warships. Despite the reduced traffic, U.S. President Donald Trump posted graphics suggesting a recovery in oil flows through the strait.