Iran plans Gulf exclusion zone as Strait of Hormuz ship traffic drops to 10 vessels daily

Planned maritime exclusion zone

Iran intends to establish a designated exclusion zone near the Strait of Hormuz in response to ongoing military confrontations in regional waters. Mohsen Resaei, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, announced the plan during an appearance on Iranian state television on 6 September. He stated that the formal proclamation of the zone outside the strait will take place in the coming days. The proposed zone is designed to extend outward from the position where the US Navy maintains its naval blockade, covering broader sections of the Persian Gulf. Iranian authorities intend to penalize international commercial vessels that move through the designated waters without authorization.

This zone begins at the blockade line of the US Navy and comprises areas of the Persian Gulf. Every ship that enters this new zone will be put on a sanctions list.

Shipping traffic drops to four-month low

Commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest point since May 2026, following mutual strikes on tankers by Iranian and US forces. Tracking data published by analytics firm Kpler showed that an average of only 10 cargo ships per day navigated the strait over the past ten days. Transit numbers dropped sharply over the weekend, with only two vessels crossing the route on 5 September and six vessels recorded on 6 September. Financial data provider LSEG reported that a crude tanker from Saudi Arabia was forced to abort its voyage and turn back while attempting to exit the waterway. Furthermore, Kpler confirmed that no supertankers have sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz since 2 September.

Escalation in regional maritime conflict

The waterway has served as a central battleground throughout the conflict between Iran and the United States, which has now lasted for more than six months. Iranian forces have largely restricted navigation through the strait, which represents a critical artery for international petroleum transport and global trade. In counteraction, the United States imposed a naval blockade against Iranian ports, causing global oil prices to climb. Naval confrontations resumed over the weekend following an extended pause in direct clashes. The US military reported that its forces targeted and destroyed an Iranian oil tanker in the vicinity of the strait.

Domestic fuel quotas and price adjustments

The ongoing US naval blockade has created logistical hurdles for Iranian oil imports, prompting internal economic measures in Tehran. On 6 September, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohadscherani announced that fuel prices for high-volume consumers will increase. The adjustment specifically applies to the third tier of the national fuel quota system, which regulates domestic energy distribution. Mohadscherani confirmed via state media that the price for tier-three consumers will double to 10,000 toman (equivalent to 3.9 cents) starting on 8 September. Fuel prices under the first and second tiers of the quota system will remain unchanged. One toman is an informal currency unit equal to 10 Iranian rials. Although Iran ranks among the largest oil producers in the world, fuel remains heavily subsidized and inexpensive, making any price revision politically sensitive.