Iran Warns US ‘Economic Warfare’ Could Trigger Gulf Maritime Exclusion Zone
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran has warned that continued US “economic warfare” could prompt Tehran to establish a maritime exclusion zone across parts of the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and raising fresh concerns over global shipping and energy supplies.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning on social media, saying Tehran would respond to continued American economic pressure by extending a maritime exclusion zone toward the perimeter of the US blockade.
Rezaei also said Iran had “fundamentally recalibrated” its operational posture toward US warships and military bases, while arguing that Washington had received a warning from Iran’s latest missile capabilities.
The statement comes amid another escalation in the six-month conflict, with the United States and Iran exchanging attacks after periods of relative calm. Reuters reported that US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, while Iranian state media subsequently said Tehran fired its advanced Qassem Basir missile toward US warships.
Iran Signals New Gulf Exclusion Zone
Rezaei had already announced plans for a new restricted maritime area near the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the proposed arrangement, the exclusion zone would begin around the perimeter of the US blockade and extend into areas of the Persian Gulf. Iran has said vessels entering the restricted area without authorisation could be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.
Tehran also plans to release maps outlining a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, although the precise timing and operating rules have yet to be fully disclosed publicly.
The announcement does not mean that a universally recognised exclusion zone has already been legally established. Its practical effect would depend on how Iran attempts to enforce it and how the United States, commercial shipping companies and other Gulf states respond.
Strait of Hormuz at Centre of US-Iran Conflict
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the most economically consequential fronts in the conflict.
The narrow waterway connects major Gulf oil and gas producers with international markets and normally carries a substantial share of global energy trade.
US forces have sought to keep maritime traffic moving while restricting Iranian oil exports. Iran, meanwhile, has continued to interfere with shipping and has threatened stronger measures if Washington maintains pressure on its energy trade.
The confrontation has already reduced commercial traffic and contributed to higher shipping risk, insurance costs and volatility in international energy markets.
Any significant expansion of restrictions across the Persian Gulf could place further pressure on vessels carrying crude oil, refined petroleum products and liquefied natural gas.
Iran Says Advanced Missile Targeted US Warships
Iran has also highlighted its missile capabilities as part of its warning to Washington.
Iranian state media said Tehran used the Qassem Basir ballistic missile against US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the missile incorporates guidance designed to resist electronic warfare.
However, the United States disputed Iranian claims about the effectiveness of the attack.
US officials said American warships were not successfully struck. That distinction is important because Iran’s battlefield claims regarding the missile should not be presented as independently established results.
The missile announcement nevertheless demonstrates Tehran’s attempt to signal that its military capabilities remain operational despite months of US strikes.
Washington Rejects Iran’s Control Claims
The United States has rejected Iran’s efforts to impose unilateral restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz and maintains that the waterway is critical to international navigation.
The dispute creates competing claims over who can regulate shipping in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
Iran argues that American military and economic pressure threatens its legitimate trade and national security. Washington, by contrast, has sought to restrict Iranian oil exports while maintaining access for other commercial shipping.
Neither side currently appears prepared to abandon its position.
Oil Markets Closely Watching Hormuz
The escalating maritime confrontation carries significant consequences for global energy markets.
Physical oil supplies from the Middle East have already been disrupted, although alternative export routes, increased non-OPEC production and weaker demand growth have so far helped prevent benchmark Brent crude from remaining sustainably above $100 a barrel.
A wider exclusion zone could increase uncertainty further if commercial vessels avoid Gulf routes because of military risks, insurance restrictions or fears of detention.
For energy-importing economies, prolonged disruption could translate into higher crude prices, freight costs and inflationary pressure.
Diplomatic Breakthrough Remains Elusive
The conflict has repeatedly moved between periods of reduced hostilities and renewed military escalation.
Reuters reported that there is currently no clear sign of a diplomatic breakthrough capable of ending the confrontation, despite previous mediation efforts.
That leaves the Strait of Hormuz and wider Persian Gulf exposed to further escalation.
Rezaei’s warning represents Tehran’s position rather than confirmation that a Gulf-wide exclusion zone has already been implemented. But the threat is significant because any attempt to enforce broader maritime restrictions could directly affect international shipping and potentially provoke another confrontation with US forces.
For global markets, the key questions are now how large Iran’s proposed zone would be, when Tehran might attempt to enforce it, and whether commercial shipping through the Gulf faces further restrictions.
