Iran's new Hormuz zone could widen conflict, analyst warns

Iran's top security official says Tehran will introduce a new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the Gulf, and announce a new maritime route agreed with Oman. Mohsen Rezaei said any ship entering the zone will be placed on Iran's sanctions list. Military defence analyst Alexandru Hudisteanu told Al Jazeera the Oman deal is "unlikely to change materially the situation" as long as shipping remains concerned about threats in the strait. He said Iran's restricted zone announcement is a "counter-tactic" to the US blockade that could extend its area of operations beyond the strait's confines. He described the current exchange as an "escalatory cycle" with an "intrinsic risk of going all to full-out war", although both sides still believe they can control it. Hudisteanu also said Iran may be developing missiles capable of striking US carrier groups, which would "complicate significantly US strategy".

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