Iran Declares New Maritime Restricted Zone Off Hormuz, Threatens Sanctions on Ships

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it will impose a new maritime restricted zone extending from the port city of Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, warning that any vessel entering the area without coordinating with Iranian authorities will face sanctions. An IRGC spokesperson said the precise coordinates of the zone would be released at a later date, but confirmed that ships crossing into it would be cut off from maritime, insurance and logistical services, and permanently barred from any future transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement follows days of escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States across the Gulf. Earlier this week, US Central Command said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, including vessels near Kharg Island and in the Gulf of Oman, after accusing the IRGC of twice attempting to strike a US Navy warship. Iran responded with missile strikes on a US-linked base in Jordan and claimed additional attacks on tankers and vessels in the region, describing the US actions as a violation of international law.

A Widening Standoff Over Hormuz

The new restricted zone marks the latest step in Iran's effort to assert control over shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of the world's seaborne oil trade passes. Iranian officials had signalled the move days earlier, with a senior security official saying Tehran intended to establish a zone outside the strait within days. The IRGC has framed the measure as a response to what it calls US aggression against Iranian commercial shipping, arguing that vessels operating without coordination with Iranian authorities cannot be guaranteed safe passage.

The declaration adds a fresh layer of uncertainty for global shipping and insurance markets already on edge over months of tit-for-tat strikes in the Gulf. Benchmark Brent crude, which had been trading below $98 a barrel earlier in the week, pushed past the $100 mark for the first time in roughly six weeks as the standoff intensified, reflecting concern among traders that a wider disruption to Hormuz traffic could follow.

Diplomatic and Economic Stakes

The confrontation comes as Washington maintains a naval posture aimed at keeping the strait open, while Tehran has leaned on economic measures, including fuel price adjustments at home, to offset the strain of the extended conflict. Iranian officials have also discussed channelling potential revenue tied to Hormuz traffic toward domestic priorities, underscoring how central the waterway has become to Iran's negotiating position.

For now, the restricted zone remains more a declaration of intent than an enforced boundary, since Iran has yet to publish exact coordinates. But the warning itself is likely to weigh on shipowners and insurers weighing routes through the Gulf, particularly as the broader conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States continues into its seventh month with no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight. Regional governments, including Gulf Arab states that depend on the strait for their own oil exports, are watching closely for signs of how strictly Iran intends to enforce the new zone once its boundaries are made public.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.