Iran to establish new restricted shipping zones in the Gulf

Iran announced plans to establish a new restricted zone in the Persian Gulf and introduce a specific shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated on September 6, 2026, that any vessel entering the designated zone will be placed on a sanctions list. The move follows a weekend exchange of strikes on regional shipping, which caused a rise in global oil prices on Monday.

Rezaei noted that maps for a new international corridor managed by Iran and Oman have been agreed upon and are expected to be formalized shortly. The official linked the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz to ongoing U.S. actions, stating that traffic will only resume once American threats and sabotage cease. This development occurs six months into a conflict initiated by U.S.-Israeli strikes, with the region currently experiencing a tactical stalemate.