Iranian Claims Over Strait of Hormuz

On Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior security official in Iran, stated that the country maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz. He hinted that a new “restricted area” would soon be announced in the Persian Gulf, where ships would need explicit permission from Tehran to pass through.

In a notable development last August, U.S. military sources revealed that the majority of Iran’s sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared. As a result, millions of barrels of oil have reportedly been flowing through the strait, now under U.S. Navy protection. Traffic levels are estimated to have returned to about 50% or even 67% of what they were before the conflict began.

Iran appears to be making an effort to reaffirm its authority over the strait by threatening incoming ships. This is likely a response to the narrative that U.S. forces are more dominant in this crucial area than Iran itself. Rezaei’s announcement about the planned restricted zone seems to be part of that strategy.

“This new zone will stretch from the U.S. Navy’s blockading line and cover parts of the Persian Gulf. Any vessel entering this area will face sanctions,” he warned.

He further mentioned, “We will only consider the Strait of Hormuz open if they cease their sabotage, threats, and attacks on Iran.”

Rezaei also claimed that Iran is still pursuing an agreement with Oman to oversee the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to charge civilian vessels for safe passage. Oman, however, seems less interested in this arrangement, though they have acknowledged discussions with Iranian officials regarding the strait’s future.

“We have agreed on maps for a new international corridor that lies within Iranian and Omani waters, where Iran will have management. This should be signed soon,” he said.

Moreover, the Iranian parliament’s speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, added weight to Rezaei’s assertions by arguing that international oil shipping remains vulnerable to Iranian threats.

“The oil and gas production networks here are extensive and exposed, and American oil companies operating in these waters face that same vulnerability,” Qalibaf stated.

Interestingly, on the previous Saturday, three Iranian tankers were either damaged or destroyed by U.S. strikes after Iran attempted to target American warships with ballistic missiles, which understandably made shipping companies uneasy. Consequently, traffic through the strait has dropped to about ten vessels a day.

Nevertheless, Qalibaf insisted that the United States needs to understand “the rules of the game have changed before it’s too late.”

“From now on, any assault on Iran’s interests will elicit a quicker, significantly harsher response,” he added.

Additionally, Qalibaf claimed that Iran is coping with the “hardship” caused by U.S. sanctions. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh dismissed claims that the regime is struggling under pressure.

“They talk about economic isolation and think that by hurting a country’s economy, they can change its public’s attitude,” he explained.

“Let me clarify: it’s the responsibility of Iran’s government and people to reform the economy, not the U.S. Treasury,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad reported that Iran’s main oil terminal on Kharg Island has suffered around 550 attacks since hostilities with the U.S. began, yet it continues to operate.

Stephen Zunes, a Middle Eastern Studies expert from the University of San Francisco, mentioned in an interview that while Iran can still occasionally pose a threat to ships in the Strait of Hormuz, enforcing a broader restricted zone in the Persian Gulf would be quite challenging.

“It’s hard to understand how they would effectively enforce it. Any Iranian vessels or aircraft trying to do so would be vulnerable to U.S. attacks,” he noted.

“But they might be issuing warnings, as there’s still some risk for shipping companies that assume they can pass through without consequences,” he reflected.

Zunes suggested that Iran’s declarations about expanding its control may be an attempt to provoke the U.S. into further military action, possibly uniting the Iranian public around their government rather than against it. They might also be trying to intimidate Oman into cooperating with their plans or to gain leverage for future negotiations with the U.S.