Iran Expands Maritime Restriction Zone Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced the expansion of its maritime restriction zone in the Persian Gulf to include parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. According to IRGC spokesperson General Hossein Mohebbi, the new area will extend toward the Iranian port city of Chabahar and cover routes leading to the Strait of Hormuz. Exact coordinates for the zone will be released at a later date.

General Mohebbi stated that any vessel entering the area without prior coordination will be subject to Iranian sanctions. One source specifies that these sanctions could include the denial of services such as insurance for ships attempting to use the Strait of Hormuz. This announcement follows a statement by Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who indicated that a new exclusion zone would be established between the American blockade line and loading ports.

Iran claims to have already sanctioned over 50 ships for entering its existing exclusion zone without authorization. Meanwhile, the United States and its allies maintain that the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters must remain open for all navigation. One report notes that the U.S. has implemented its own blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports following the start of hostilities between the U.S. Israel, and Iran on February 28. Recent reports also indicate that both the U.S. and Iran have conducted attacks against civilian merchant ships in the region over the past day.