TEHRAN, Iran: Iran’s no-go zone for shipping will extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said.
IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi told Iranian state television that the enlarged maritime zone would begin roughly toward Chabahar. The Guards said they would announce its exact coordinates later.
Mohebi warned that vessels entering the designated area without prior coordination would face sanctions. He said those measures could include denial of access to navigation-related services.
The announcement comes amid renewed maritime fighting between Iran and the United States around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said its forces attacked commercial and U.S. vessels, while Washington says it has struck Iranian oil tankers.
Read: Iran-US Tensions Rise as Tehran Warns of Heavier Retaliation
The latest clashes have disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway and pushed Brent crude above USD 100 a barrel.
Iran’s planned zone is also significant for Pakistan because Chabahar lies on Iran’s southeastern coast near the Pakistani border. Reuters reported that the Guards intend to extend the enlarged off-limits area as far as Chabahar.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz.
