Iran has established new maritime control zones in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, redefining its naval boundaries in the Persian Gulf region.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing a map released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy via the Tasnim news agency, the new boundaries extend from the western tip of Iran's Qeshm Island to a point east of Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the eastern sector, the zone stretches from Kuh-Mobarak in Iran to a point south of Fujairah in the UAE. Ali Abdullahi, a commander at the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated that Tehran has warned the United States to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Iranian forces are prepared to engage US military assets if necessary.
The Strait of Hormuz is recognized as one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes daily. This move by Tehran comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing naval friction in the Persian Gulf. International observers note that such unilateral boundary definitions often serve as a geopolitical signal to global powers, particularly the administration of US President Donald Trump, regarding Iran's perceived sphere of influence and its readiness to control access to the Gulf's critical energy corridors.
