Iran has announced a major expansion of the area around the Strait of Hormuz that it says falls under its military control, in a move likely to heighten tensions in the Gulf region.
A map released by Iran’s newly formed “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” shows what it describes as “Iranian armed forces oversight” covering more than 22,000 square kilometres of surrounding waters. The claimed zone extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Iranian officials also stated that all ships passing through the strait must first coordinate with and obtain approval from the new authority.
The UAE dismissed the claims, calling them “nothing but fragments of dreams,” while the United States and its Gulf allies rejected Iran’s efforts to tighten control over the vital maritime corridor. Washington has instructed vessels not to comply with Tehran’s directives.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, serving as a key passage for global oil and gas exports.
Anwar Gargash, a senior adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, said Iran was attempting to “create a new reality out of a clear military setback,” adding that any effort to dominate the Strait of Hormuz or undermine the UAE’s maritime sovereignty was “nothing more than fragments of dreams”.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees ships the right to pass safely through another country’s waters, although Iran has not formally ratified the treaty.
Media outlets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps this week aired footage they claimed showed a “punishment” attack on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
An analysis by BBC Verify found that details visible on the vessel in the footage closely matched the Barakah, a Liberian-flagged tanker whose operators reported it had been hit by unknown projectiles earlier this month.
Iran’s moves to expand its control around the Strait of Hormuz come as US forces intercepted an Iran-bound oil tanker on Wednesday. United States Central Command said the vessel was suspected of violating the American blockade on Iranian ports.
Footage released by Centcom showed US marines descending from a helicopter onto the deck of a ship identified as the tanker Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman.
In a social media statement, Centcom said the vessel was “suspected of attempting to violate the US blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port”.
Maritime risk management firm Vanguard said US forces later allowed the vessel to continue after searching the ship and ordering its crew to change direction.
Celestial Sea has previously been sanctioned under a previous name by the US for its links with Iran.
Tracking data from MarineTraffic shows the ship is now reporting its destination as the port of Duqm in Oman.
Centcom said on Thursday it had redirected 94 commercial ships and disabled four vessels since the US blockade of Iranian ports came into effect on 13 April.
Donald Trump said on Monday he was holding off a military attack on Iran planned for the following day at the request of Gulf states because “serious negotiations are now taking place”.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said he had been asked to do so by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan’s military chief is reported to be visiting Tehran on Thursday in an attempt to mediate peace efforts between Iran and the US.
Iranian state media reported Asim Munir will be continuing talks with senior Iranian officials.
The Iranian foreign ministry said it was reviewing the latest proposals from the US on ending the war.