TEHRAN — Iran plans to establish an “exclusion zone” near the Strait of Hormuz targeting vessels it believes are attempting to transit the strategic waterway, the newly appointed head of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said Sunday.
Rezaei told Iranian state television that the proposed zone would begin near what Tehran considers the U.S. naval blockade and extend toward the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf.
He said the measure is expected to be announced in the coming days or weeks. Ships identified as entering the area with the intention of passing through the strait could be placed on Iran’s sanctions list, he added.
The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation between Iran and the United States following renewed military attacks and growing tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military has deployed more than 20 warships to support a blockade targeting Iranian ports and restricting the country’s oil exports. According to U.S. officials, the operation has redirected dozens of commercial vessels.
Iran has also continued to target or challenge vessels attempting to navigate the strait. On Sunday, Iranian authorities claimed they had struck an unmanned U.S. vessel attempting to enter the waterway. The U.S. military rejected the claim, describing it as a “total lie.”
Fighting resumes after weeks of relative calm
The latest escalation follows the resumption of U.S.-Iran attacks after roughly a month of relative calm.
The Strait of Hormuz and areas along Iran’s southern coastline have again become focal points in the conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Earlier in the week, at least five people were killed in a U.S. bombardment, reviving concerns over attacks in southern Iran, including an earlier strike that hit a school in Minab.
The Trump administration has combined military action with economic pressure, targeting Iran’s activities around the Strait of Hormuz while imposing measures against foreign financial institutions accused of handling Iranian funds.
Iran’s leadership, meanwhile, has signaled that it intends to withstand the pressure and continue finding ways to sell its oil despite sanctions and restrictions on its ports.
Iran expresses caution over stalled negotiations
Rezaei also addressed the collapse of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, expressing concern over the role played by countries that had attempted to mediate between the two sides.
He said Iran had expected mediators, including Pakistan, Qatar and Oman, to intervene when either side violated the agreement.
Rezaei said Tehran is now pursuing diplomacy with stronger guarantees, reflecting Iran’s growing mistrust of both the United States and the mediation process.
Strait remains vital to global energy supplies
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important routes for oil and natural gas shipments.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that an estimated 9 million barrels of oil are currently passing through the strait each day. He said additional oil is moving through regional pipelines, putting total flows at roughly two-thirds or more of pre-conflict levels.
Wright said continued shipments depend significantly on the presence of the U.S. Navy, which is escorting tankers and providing protection against potential Iranian attacks.
He also expressed hope that other countries would eventually contribute to the maritime security effort.
Despite the restrictions, Rezaei claimed Iran continues to export between one million and 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, arguing that the country’s oil production and trade remain largely operational.
The planned exclusion zone could further complicate commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and increase concerns over global energy supplies as the conflict between Iran and the United States continues.
