Iran announces Strait of Hormuz zone, lanes

Iran announced plans on Sunday, September 6, 2026, to establish a restricted maritime zone outside the Strait of Hormuz and introduce new shipping lanes through the critical waterway, escalating tensions with the United States. The declarations come amid a recent surge in hostilities and significant disruption to global shipping traffic. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that the new restricted zone would extend from the U.S. naval blockade line into parts of the Persian Gulf. Any vessel entering this area without Iranian approval will be placed on the country's sanctions list, according to state media. Alongside the restricted zone, Iran plans to announce a new international shipping corridor, with maps agreed upon with Oman. Iran will manage the entry and exit points of this corridor, which is expected to be formally approved and signed in the coming days. These developments follow a period of intensified conflict. On Saturday, September 5, U.S. Central Command reported striking three Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missile attacks launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against two U.S. Navy ships.