Iran's new plan regarding Hormuz
Photo: Reuters
Iran is preparing to declare a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, within the next few days, the country will announce the opening of a new route in the strait in consensus with Oman. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iranian security, disclosed this information in an interview on Sunday.
Speaking in an interview with Iran's state media IRIB TV, Mohsen Rezaei stated that this restricted area will extend "from where the US naval blockade begins, through the Strait of Hormuz region, and into the Persian Gulf on the other side of the strait."
He added that vessels entering this region without coordinating with Iran will face sanctions, which will impact the ships' insurance coverage and their future transit through this waterway.
The top Iranian official claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed, describing US assertions that ships and oil tankers are traversing the strait as "false."
He said that some vessels often turn off their navigation systems and attempt to cross the strait via a path close to Oman, but most of these ships "come under attack."
Experts suggest that enforcing a restricted zone could create further complications for the United States.
Professor Stephen Zunes of the University of San Francisco said that the plan to enforce a restricted zone in the Strait of Hormuz might be tied to a potential agreement between Iran and Oman regarding navigation in the waterway.
Zunes believes that if the agreement with Oman can be implemented and accepted by the US, Iran might step back from enforcing the restricted area. Otherwise, Tehran is "preparing to do something to make things more troublesome" for Washington.
Zunes explained that if the restricted zone is enforced, "the situation could become more complex, as US forces, already under immense strain, would have to patrol and monitor a much larger area." This, he added, "could make shipping companies and their insurers even more reluctant to navigate such risky waters."
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
