According to TASS, in an interview with Iranian state television IRIB broadcast on the evening of September 6 (local time), Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said that the new restrictive zone will stretch from the area where the US naval blockade began, through the Strait of Hormuz and to the waters on the other side of the strait in the Persian Gulf.
According to him, ships entering restricted areas without cooperation with Iran will be put on the sanctions list. These measures may affect the ship's insurance as well as the ability to continue traveling through waterways in the future.
Mr. Rezaei also affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz has been completely closed, refuting the US claim that ships and oil tankers can still pass through this route.
Some ships are believed to be trying to cross the strait along the route near Oman and turn off the navigation system to avoid being detected. Mr. Rezaei said most of these ships were attacked by Iran. However, Tehran currently has no intention of sinking the ships due to concerns about the risk of environmental pollution.
Mr. Rezaei also revealed that Iran for the first time tested an anti-destroyer missile developed by this country. The test took place about 48 hours before his interview and the missile was launched above a US aircraft carrier.
Iranian officials described the test as a warning that the US naval blockade may be challenged. He declared the missile had caused the US to withdraw, but did not provide further information about the type of missile or aircraft carrier mentioned.
Tehran said the Strait of Hormuz will continue to be closed until Washington takes concrete steps to fulfill its obligations under the peace memorandum signed by the two countries in June.
Iran and Oman are also expected to announce a new international corridor for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days. Mr. Rezaei emphasized that this corridor will be managed by Iran.
After US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, Iran restricted operations through the Strait of Hormuz, while US forces imposed naval blockades on ships moving to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
