The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Mohsen Rezaei, stated that Tehran will announce a new restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, amid rising tensions with the United States over control of navigation and oil trade.
Read more Pope Leo laments attacks in Ukraine and calls to resume peace negotiations
The zone will start from the line of the U.S. Navy blockade and will extend to different areas of the Gulf, Rezaei told Iranian state media.
Also, the country’s top security official warned that any vessel entering the new zone will be added to the sanctions list.
The announcement comes amid a new escalation between Washington and Tehran. The United States maintains strong economic and military pressure on Iran, including sanctions and a blockade aimed at restricting its oil exports, as well as cross missile offensives between the two countries.
Also, the decision adds to other measures taken by Iran to strengthen control over navigation in the area. In early September, Iranian authorities had raised to 56 the number of vessels included in a blacklist, accusing them of violating the rules imposed by Tehran for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.
Read more U.S. officials meet with Zelenski seeking to end the war between Russia and Ukraine
