Iran to announce new restricted zone near Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it will announce a new restricted zone in the Gulf and release maps for a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy route that has largely closed to tanker traffic.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the restricted zone would begin where the US blockade of Iran starts and extend into Gulf waters. He provided few details but said any ship entering the zone would be placed on a sanctions list.

“

The maps of a new international corridor which lies in Iranian and Omani waters and in which Iran will have management have been agreed and should be signed in the coming days.

Rezaei said maps for an international corridor through Iranian and Omani waters had been agreed and should be signed in the coming days. Iran would manage the route, he said. “We will only commit to the Strait of Hormuz being open when they (the Americans) stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran,” Rezaei said.

The announcement followed a weekend exchange of strikes on shipping that sent oil prices higher. US Central Command said US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, including one near Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. The strikes followed attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on US warships in the region.

“

We will only commit to the Strait of Hormuz being open when they (the Americans) stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran.

The conflict has resumed after a pause in military action through much of August. A preliminary ceasefire agreement reached in June has unravelled, while diplomatic efforts have made little progress. Iran has continued to show that it can target US interests in neighbouring countries and disrupt oil flows through the strait.

Shipping data showed an average of 10 commodity vessels crossed the strait each day during the previous 10 days, the lowest level since May. Brent crude rose 0.8% on Monday to above $97 a barrel. Iranian officials also said Tehran would intensify efforts to address problems caused by US sanctions, although three senior Iranian sources said the US campaign to restrict Iran’s oil exports was becoming increasingly difficult for the economy to withstand.

“

From now on, any attack against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, heavier and more painful response.