Iran has said a maritime restricted area would extend from Chabahar in Iran into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, with its precise coordinates to be announced, as it strongly condemned US attacks on several Iranian commercial vessels
The announcement on Wednesday about maritime restrictions by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) follows comments on Sunday by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who was quoted by state media as saying Iran would establish a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days.
"It approximately starts from the direction of Chabahar, covering part of the Sea of Oman and another part of the Arabian Sea, along the route that can lead to the Strait of Hormuz," IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi told state television.
"If a vessel enters that area without coordination, it will be subject to our sanctions. It means, for example, that if it later wants to come and use the Strait of Hormuz, if it wants to receive services somewhere, such as insurance or other related services, we will refrain from providing those services," he added.
The announcement comes after Iran reported "significant progress" with Oman, the other coastal state on the Hormuz, in discussions of a temporary shipping route through the strait.
US attacks
Meanwhile, Iran said its armed forces responded by targeting US military bases and facilities in Jordan and several American vessels.
In a statement, the Iranian foreign ministry described the US attacks on Iranian commercial vessels in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as a continuation of Washington’s “military aggression, maritime blockade and economic war” against Tehran.
The ministry said the US actions constituted a “clear violation” of the UN Charter and international law, warning that they were escalating tensions and threatening regional and international peace and security.
It said that in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers, Iran’s armed forces exercised its “inherent right to legitimate self-defence” by targeting US military bases and facilities in Jordan, which it accused of supporting US military operations against Iran.
Iranian forces also targeted several US vessels in what the ministry described as “defensive strikes".
The ministry stressed Iran’s determination to defend its sovereignty and national interests, saying its armed forces would respond decisively to any military attack.
It also called on the UN Security Council and other international organisations to take immediate action to halt US violations of international peace and security.
The statement comes amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which has increasingly extended to maritime routes in and around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, with both sides reporting attacks on military and commercial vessels.
Earlier on Wednesday, the IRGC said it had targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers in response to US attacks on five Iranian oil tankers.
