Tehran: Iran plans to announce a new restricted zone near the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, adding to growing tensions with the United States over one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.
Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the proposed zone would begin from the line of the US naval blockade and include areas of the Persian Gulf. He said ships entering the new zone would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.
Iran has not yet provided full details of the boundaries of the proposed zone or explained how it would be enforced.
Rezaei also said Iran would announce a new shipping route agreed with Oman in the coming days. The announcement comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply following recent attacks on vessels.
The latest developments follow a major escalation between Iranian and US forces around the waterway. The United States said it struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US Navy ships in the region.
US Central Command said the Iranian attacks targeted two US warships. The American vessels avoided the attacks and no US personnel were reported injured.
The US military said the three Iranian tankers were linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. One was struck near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, while another was targeted near Jask. A third tanker was struck in the Gulf of Oman.
Iran has also claimed that its forces targeted three oil tankers using what it described as an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz and three US affiliated vessels in other areas. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.
Iranian state media also reported that Iranian forces had struck an unmanned US vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military denied the claim. A spokesperson for US Central Command called the report false. The alleged attack has therefore not been independently established.
The confrontation has already had a major effect on commercial shipping.
An average of about 10 commodity ships a day transited the Strait of Hormuz during the 10 days ending September 6, the lowest level since May, according to shipping data. Only two vessels passed through the strait on Saturday and six on Sunday, with most of the Sunday traffic using the Iranian route.
The sharp fall in shipping has raised concerns about the movement of oil and other goods through the waterway. Commercial vessels have continued to transit the Strait despite the significant reduction in traffic.
The situation has also pushed oil prices higher. Brent crude rose to around 97 dollars a barrel on Monday, while US West Texas Intermediate crude traded at about 92 dollars a barrel. Oil prices have risen sharply since fighting around the Strait intensified.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said about 9 million barrels of oil a day were still moving through the Strait of Hormuz. He said that, including oil transported through regional pipelines, flows were around two thirds or more of pre conflict levels.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global energy supplies. Large volumes of oil and other energy products from Gulf countries normally pass through the waterway.
Kharg Island remains particularly important to Iran's oil industry. Before the war, about 90 percent of Iran's crude exports passed through the island.
The latest confrontation follows months of fighting between Iran and the United States. The wider conflict began on February 28 after US and Israeli strikes against Iran. A period of relative calm followed a preliminary agreement in June, but the agreement later broke down and fighting resumed.
Iranian officials have warned that further US attacks will bring a stronger response.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran would respond more quickly and forcefully to any further attacks against its interests and security. He said Tehran believed the rules of the confrontation had changed.
Iran is also facing growing economic pressure from US sanctions and restrictions on its oil exports. Iranian officials have acknowledged the impact of the conflict and sanctions on the country's economy.
Diplomatic efforts to reduce the confrontation have also struggled to make progress. Iran has expressed distrust toward previous mediators and has called for stronger guarantees before returning to serious negotiations.
The proposed Iranian restricted zone remains an announced plan rather than a fully defined operational measure. Its exact boundaries, enforcement arrangements and effect on international shipping remain unclear.
At the same time, the planned shipping route with Oman could provide another route for commercial vessels through the Strait, although details of the arrangement have yet to be announced.
With US and Iranian forces continuing to target vessels and shipping traffic falling sharply, the latest escalation has increased risks for commercial shipping and added further pressure to global oil markets.