Iran establishes a controlled maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced the formation of a controlled maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz that requires ships to coordinate and obtain authorisation from Iranian authorities before traversing the strategic waterway. In a statement published on Wednesday (20 May) on the X social platform, the authorities outlined the bounds of management and monitoring of the strait. The zone extends from Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to the south of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates at the strait’s eastern entrance, and from the tip of Iran’s Qeshm Island to Umm al-Quwain in the UAE at the western entrance. The authorities also released a map depicting the newly designated zone. The regional tensions have risen since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and US allies in the Gulf region, along with the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on 8 April through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a permanent agreement. US President Donald Trump subsequently extended the ceasefire indefinitely while continuing to uphold the blockade of ships destined for or originating from Iran’s ports through the strategic waterway.