Iran to Declare Prohibited Zone Near Strait of Hormuz

On Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's leading security official, revealed plans to create a 'prohibited zone' adjacent to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as reported by state media. This zone will extend from the US Navy's blockade line into parts of the Persian Gulf, with any vessel entering it facing sanctions from Iran. Rezaei mentioned that further details would be shared in the coming days. In a related move, Iranian officials announced a rise in petrol prices for larger consumers amid escalating US sanctions targeting Iran's economy. The current pricing tiers are set at 1,500 tomans for the first 60 litres, 3,000 tomans for the next 50 litres, and 5,000 tomans for any extra usage. Starting September 8, the price for the highest tier will increase to 10,000 tomans (approximately 4.5 US cents), as confirmed by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani. She explained that this figure was chosen following discussions in expert meetings, aligning with the president's commitment to the public. These actions occur against a backdrop of rising regional tensions and persistent economic challenges for Iran.