Iran warns US energy, plans Gulf maritime zone

Iran has issued new threats against the United States and its allies in the Persian Gulf, warning of retaliation against American energy interests and announcing plans for a new maritime exclusion zone. The heightened tensions follow a weekend exchange of attacks between U.S. and Iranian forces, underscoring the ongoing risks of escalation in the six-month conflict. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on Monday, September 7, 2026, that "Strike our assets and you get struck," warning that American oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf would face consequences if Washington launches further strikes on Iranian assets. He emphasized that the region's energy production chain is "sprawling, accessible, and exposed," and that U.S. companies share this vulnerability. Senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei announced on Sunday, September 6, 2026, that Tehran would soon declare a new restricted zone in the Gulf. This zone would extend from the perimeter of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran into other areas of the Gulf. Rezaei also stated that any vessel entering this zone would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.