Iran plans new Hormuz corridor as shipping plunges and Gulf allies question US protection

Iran plans to establish a new restricted zone in the Gulf and approve new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. This comes as U.S.-Iran attacks on shipping continue, driving oil prices higher and increasing security concerns. Rezaei stated, “We will only commit to the Strait of Hormuz being open when they, the Americans, stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran.” Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased, with an average of 10 commodity ships per day over the last 10 days. Gulf states are increasingly questioning their reliance on U.S. protection, with Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari saying, “Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward.” Iran has also warned South Korea against military involvement in Gulf operations and threatened a response if the U.N. nuclear watchdog adopts a resolution against Tehran.