Iran Announces New Exclusion Zone Around the Strait of Hormuz

On Sunday, Iran’s newly appointed head of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, told state television that Tehran will soon carve out a fresh “exclusion zone” in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. He said the exact coordinates will be published in the next few days, but the gist is clear: the zone will start where the U.S. naval blockade is believed to sit, stretch toward the strait, and then push further into the Persian Gulf.

Rezaei warned that any ship daring to pass through the area, if identified, will be slapped onto Iran’s sanctions list. "Any vessel that enters this area with the intention of crossing the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list," he said, his tone leaving little room for negotiation.

The move comes on the heels of a sharp escalation. Just a day earlier, the United States hit three Iranian oil tankers after Tehran launched ballistic missiles toward U.S. warships. Washington, meanwhile, continues to enforce a naval blockade aimed at choking off Iranian oil exports – a strategy that has already forced more than 20 U.S. warships to intervene, rerouting dozens of commercial ships and disabling three, according to U.S. military statements.

Iran has long used the Hormuz waterway as a bargaining chip. Earlier this week, Tehran claimed it had struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the strait – a claim the Pentagon dismissed as “a total lie.” The back‑and‑forth between the two sides has turned the narrow channel into a flashpoint, especially after a brief lull in hostilities gave way to fresh attacks that left at least five people dead, including victims of a strike that hit a school‑adjacent area.

Rezaei also vented frustration over the collapse of recent negotiations mediated by Pakistan, Qatar and Oman. He argued that a mediator should step in when one side breaches an agreement, and implied that Tehran is now pursuing “diplomacy with guarantees” after the June memorandum of understanding fell apart within days.

For the global oil market, the stakes are high. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that roughly nine million barrels of crude still flow through Hormuz each day – a figure that, while below pre‑conflict levels, represents a substantial share of world supply. Pipelines in the region are helping keep the lights on, but any further disruption could ripple through gasoline prices worldwide.

In short, Iran’s latest threat adds another layer of uncertainty for shipping companies, insurers and governments alike. As the U.S. and Tehran circle each other, the tiny strait that carries a fifth of the world’s oil may once again become a chokepoint for the global economy.