Iran reportedly plans exclusion zone outside Strait of Hormuz

Iran is preparing another move near the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, head of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, said an exclusion zone would be announced outside the strategic waterway in the coming days.

“This zone begins at the U.S. Navy’s blockade line and includes areas of the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei said on Iranian state television. “Any ship that enters this new zone will be placed on a sanctions list.”

The announcement follows renewed fighting near the strait after a longer pause. The U.S. military said it had destroyed an Iranian oil tanker. Shipping traffic has since remained sharply limited. Only two ships crossed the trade route on Saturday and six on Sunday, according to the report. LSEG data showed that a Saudi tanker had to turn around while trying to leave the strait, while Kpler reported that no supertanker had left the waterway since Wednesday.

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This zone begins at the U.S. Navy’s blockade line and includes areas of the Persian Gulf.

The report links the tensions to difficulties Iran faces with oil imports because of the U.S. naval blockade. Tehran also announced higher fuel prices for large consumers. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said the third tier of the quota system would be affected.

The price in that tier will double to 10,000 toman, equivalent to 3.9 cents, from Sept. 8, state media quoted Mohajerani as saying. Prices in the first two tiers will remain unchanged. The toman is an informal currency unit equal to 10 Iranian rials.

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Any ship that enters this new zone will be placed on a sanctions list.