Iran is set to declare a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transit. Tehran has established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, working alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy to enforce stricter transit rules over an area ten times wider than before. Turn-back orders were issued in June 2026 against vessels using unapproved routes, and maritime insurance premiums have risen amid increased risk of enforcement incidents. Oman and the International Maritime Organization proposed alternative shipping corridors, but Iran rejected them, insisting on its own oversight terms. Shipping traffic through the strait has fallen below pre-conflict levels and oil prices have risen in response to tightening access.
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