Iran will announce in the coming days a new restricted zone in the Persian Gulf and new maps for a maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, at a time when attacks between Tehran and the United States continue. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, stated that the new zone will start from the point where the American blockade of the country begins and will extend to other areas of the Gulf, with ships that enter this zone being added to a sanctions list.
In parallel, Iran and Oman are finalizing maps with the new passage routes through the Strait of Hormuz, an important energy transport route that remains practically closed to oil tanker traffic. Rezaei stated that the maps for a new international corridor, located in Iranian and Omani waters and to be managed by Iran, have been agreed upon and are expected to be signed in the coming days. The official added that Tehran will only guarantee the opening of the Strait of Hormuz when Washington ceases what it classifies as "sabotage, threats and attacks" against Iran.
The announcement comes after a new weekend of attacks on ships in the region. American forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), after attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard against American warships patrolling regional waters.
Passages of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz have dropped to the lowest level since May. According to shipping data from Kpler cited by Reuters, an average of just 10 cargo ships per day crossed the strait in the last ten days.
