Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have announced a new exclusion zone extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The exact coordinates of the zone will be announced at a later stage, according to the Guards.
Ships face sanctions
Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebi told Iranian state television that the zone would begin roughly in the direction of Chabahar and cover parts of the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
He warned that vessels entering the zone without prior coordination would face sanctions.
“These sanctions will include a ban on access to navigation-related services,” Mohebi said, according to the announcement.
The move comes amid a renewed escalation in fighting between the United States and Iran, with Iranian forces targeting commercial vessels around the Strait of Hormuz.
Rising tensions around Hormuz
The latest announcement follows a sharp escalation in maritime attacks in the region. Iran has targeted multiple vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has carried out attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
The developments have heightened concerns over shipping through the strategic waterway, a major route for global energy supplies. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel amid the latest escalation.
The newly announced exclusion zone is expected to further increase uncertainty for commercial shipping in the region.
Also read: Several ships in Gulf waters engulfed in flames, UK maritime agency says
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