Mohsen Rezaei said Iran would declare a zone beyond the Strait of Hormuz, extending from the US naval blockade line into the Persian Gulf. AP News and Anadolu Agency separately reported his statement that identified ships entering to transit would be placed on Iran's sanctions list. No precise boundary or enforcement date has been published.
Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television that a new zone would be declared outside the Strait of Hormuz. AP News and Anadolu Agency reported his description of an area beginning at the US naval blockade line and extending into parts of the Persian Gulf. Rezaei said identified ships entering it to transit the strait would be placed on Iran's sanctions list.[1], [2]
Both reports say an announcement is expected in the coming days or weeks. AP News notes that Iran has not made clear where it locates the US blockade line, while Anadolu Agency gives no precise enforcement date. The statement therefore does not yet show the coordinates or procedure by which merchant ships would be listed. No published map is available either.[1], [2]
AP News reported that Rezaei spoke a day after the United States struck three Iranian crude-oil tankers. It attributes to the US military figures of more than 20 warships supporting the blockade, 92 commercial vessels redirected and three ships disabled. Those US figures do not show that Iran's proposed zone has already been put into operation.[1]
