Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary revealed plans to announce restricted zones outside the Strait of Hormuz along with new shipping routes agreed with Oman in the coming days, emphasizing that ships violating these rules may face sanctions.
On 7 September 2026, Mohsen Rezaee, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, announced that Iran will soon declare a "restricted navigation zone outside the Strait of Hormuz" and will blacklist any vessels attempting to pass through without coordinating with Iranian authorities.
Rezaee told Iran's IRIB television station in an interview aired last Sunday night that the restricted zone will extend from the US maritime blockade line to the Strait of Hormuz area and inside the Persian Gulf on the other side of the strait. Ships entering without coordination with Iran will face sanctions that could affect their insurance and future rights to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Rezaee stated this measure is part of Iran's strategic shift in war and diplomacy to increase pressure on the United States. He also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains fully closed and denied US claims that commercial vessels and oil tankers continue to pass through the strait.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz situation, Rezaee affirmed Iran will keep the strait closed until the US takes concrete steps to comply with the peace memorandum signed by both countries in June. He also revealed that Iran and Oman will announce a new international shipping corridor in the coming days for vessels wishing to transit the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that this route will be managed by Iran.
Source: Aljazeera