Iran expands maritime strategy to pressure US and energy interests

Iran is signaling a broader offensive beyond the Strait of Hormuz, proposing a revised maritime posture that includes a new 'prohibited zone' outside the waterway, a proposed Oman–Iran shipping corridor, and sanctions on vessels to pressure US forces and regional energy infrastructure. The move accompanies threats to US ships and energy interests and a warning that the rules of engagement have changed, even as Washington says Hormuz remains open under US control. The report also covers Canada’s pledge to counter transnational repression after Iranian threats to journalists, plus domestic Iran stories about protests over pay in the oil sector and an Iraqi-students incident in Semnan, underscoring wider regional tensions.