Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Saturday that any vessel entering a restricted maritime zone around the Strait of Hormuz could be sanctioned as tensions over shipping in the strategic waterway flare, Fars News Agency reported.
The restricted area, according to an IRGC spokesperson, starts near Chabahar in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province and extends into portions of the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The warning adds to mounting uncertainty for commercial vessels operating around one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Separately, Iran has announced plans for a new “restricted zone” around the Strait of Hormuz, with officials saying vessels entering the area could be put on a sanctions list.
The announcement follows an escalation of hostilities between Iran and the United States including attacks on military and commercial vessels. Several merchant ships were damaged overnight by disabling fire during military activity in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply. Data from Kpler showed only six commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday, below the 10-day average of 12.
The strait is a major energy choke point for the world, with around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply normally passing through it.
