Iran to announce new restricted zone in the Gulf in the coming days

Iran says it will announce within days a new restricted zone in the Gulf and publish maps for a revised shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told state TV the zone will start where the U.S. blockade of Iran begins and extend into parts of the Gulf. He said ships entering the area would be added to a sanctions list. Rezaei also said passage maps in Iranian and Omani waters should be signed soon, and Iran would only commit to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open if the U.S. stops sabotage, threats and attacks. The comments come after weekend shipping strikes pushed oil prices higher.