ALWAGHT- Iran is set to designate a new restricted maritime zone beyond the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, with vessels entering the area without prior coordination with Tehran facing potential inclusion on an Iranian sanctions list.
Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran plans to establish a new restricted maritime zone extending from the US naval blockade line into parts of the Persian Gulf toward loading ports. He warned that vessels entering the designated area without coordination with Iran could face sanctions affecting their insurance and future passage.
Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz is fully closed and under the control of Iran’s armed forces, rejecting US claims that the waterway remains open. He said only a small number of vessels carrying essential goods for Iran are currently transiting, while Tehran plans to introduce a new corridor whose entry and exit will remain under Iranian management.
The SNSC secretary also claimed Iran recently tested a new anti-ship missile over a US Navy vessel, describing the test as a warning about the vulnerability of the American naval blockade. He further said Iranian attacks on US positions had forced Washington to abandon plans for a prolonged war and warned that Tehran retains the right to retaliate against attacks on its territory.
Rezaei also addressed developments in Lebanon, Iran’s domestic supplies and its broader confrontation with the United States. He said Hezbollah remains capable of preventing a lasting Israeli presence in Lebanon, while rejecting claims of shortages in Iran and stressing that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on Washington ending its threats and complying with its commitments under the existing agreement.
