Iran Signals Restricted Zone for Hormuz, Testing Global Shipping

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary said Tehran will establish a new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz, starting from the U.S. blockade line and extending into the Persian Gulf, with ships entering the area to be placed on Iran’s sanctions list; Tehran also spoke of new navigation maps and a corridor developed with Oman. The plan follows renewed US–Iran tanker attacks, the collapse of a 60-day MoU, and questions about enforceability against U.S.-protected shipping. Analysts say enforcing a broad zone would be difficult, but the move could serve as leverage in talks with Oman or as a signal to Washington.