Iran Announces Pending No-Sail Zone Outside Strait of Hormuz
Iran's National Security Chief Mohsen Rezaei announced a pending no-sail zone outside the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows US retaliatory strikes on Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on US warships.
Iran's Ultimatum in the Strait of Hormuz
Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, sent a sharp warning to regional nations on Sunday, announcing Tehran's intention to impose strict maritime restrictions in the Persian Gulf region.
Mohsen Rezaei stated:
"In the coming days, we will declare a no-sail zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, which will include parts of the Gulf, starting from the line of the American naval blockade. Any ship that enters this zone will be included in our sanctions list."
Rezaei dismissed rumors regarding shortages of basic goods in Iran due to US military sanctions and economic blockade. He also claimed that Tehran recently conducted a direct military test against American forces:
"Forty-eight hours ago, for the first time, we carried out the first test of our cruise missile against an American aircraft carrier."
According to Rezaei, the Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed, with at most seven or eight ships passing through daily, five or six of which carry essential goods for Iran. He noted that US vessels occasionally attempt to navigate near the cliffs off the coast of Oman, where they are routinely targeted.
He emphasized that Iran continues to sell oil and receive payments, warning that Tehran's tightening grip on the Strait of Hormuz will have a greater impact than missile strikes.
US Response and Military Escalation
Amid the escalating situation in the Gulf, US President Donald Trump posted a series of messages on his Truth Social platform, including an image of Iran's map shaped like his own head.
The rhetoric follows a direct military confrontation in which the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) targeted three Iranian crude oil tankers. This action was taken after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles at two US warships patrolling regional waters.
According to CENTCOM, a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks. The US military characterized the strikes as "unprovoked" and confirmed that no American personnel were injured.
In response to the missile fire, US forces permanently disabled two IRGC crude oil tankers: the M/T Downy near Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1 in the Jask region.
