Iran to Declare Restricted Maritime Zone Outside Strait of Hormuz, Threatens Sanctions on Vessels

TEHRAN, Sept 7 — Iran will establish a new restricted maritime zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, with any vessel entering the area facing placement on an official sanctions list, senior Iranian national security officials announced.

In a televised interview, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that the zone would extend from the US Navy’s blockade line into portions of the Gulf.

“Any vessel entering this new zone will be placed on a sanctions list,” Rezaei said in statements reported by Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

Rezaei disclosed that Iran and Oman are scheduled to sign an agreement establishing a new corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, with all entry and exit points managed under Iranian control.

Asserting that the strategic waterway is “completely closed and under the control of the armed forces,” Rezaei dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that the passage remains open as a “big lie.” He noted that while transit previously exceeded 100 ships carrying over 100 million tonnes of cargo daily, current traffic has fallen to just seven or eight vessels transporting essential goods for Iran.

Rezaei further claimed that Iranian forces had conducted a successful test of a new anti-ship missile directly above an American warship 48 hours earlier, causing the vessel to withdraw, though he did not specify the warship or location.

Separately, speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, Rezaei rejected assertions that US economic restrictions were causing widespread famine across Iran, maintaining that the government has prepared adequate stockpiles of food and critical supplies.

Tensions across the Gulf have escalated following initial US and Israeli military actions against Iran on Feb 28, which triggered retaliatory drone and missile strikes throughout the region. Although a June memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan and Qatar outlined steps toward restoring navigation and ending hostilities, both Washington and Tehran continue to accuse each other of failing to fulfill terms of the agreement.

–NMT