Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captures an unmanned submersible on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz.The submersible was equipped with what the IRGC described as the world's most-advanced subsurface vehicle technology.Sepahnews via AP The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced on Wednesday that its"new maritime restricted zone"would extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea,and any vessel that attempted to cross the prohibited corridor without coordination with Iran would be sanctioned.It added that the precise coordinates would be announced later.
The development is likely to further escalate tensions in the Middle East,which just witnessed the biggest declared wave of tit-for-tat attacks on shipping since the start of the United States-Iran war six months ago.Iran said it targeted10vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five of its oil tankers on Tuesday.
Brent crude prices surged past$100a barrel on Wednesday,as the snowballing conflict fueled worries of an Energy（ELPC）-driven inflation and sent global stocks tumbling ahead of major central bank decisions.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi reportedly told Iranian state television in an interview that the"new maritime restricted zone"would"approximately start from the direction of Chabahar,covering a part of the Gulf of Oman and another part of the Arabian Sea".
The Chabahar Port is a strategic deep-water Seaport（SEG） located in southeastern Iran in the Gulf of Oman.As Iran's only oceanic port outside the Strait of Hormuz,it offers direct access to the Indian Ocean,and this geographical advantage makes it a pivotal hub for regional and International（IGIC） trade.
Mohebbi noted that if a vessel enters the prohibited zone without coordination with Iran,it will be subject to sanctions."For example...if it wants to receive services somewhere—such as insurance or other related services—we will refrain from providing those services,"he said.
On Tuesday,the US Central Command said in a statement that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice in the past two days.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington will continue targeting Iranian oil tankers if Tehran continued to orchestrate attacks on US naval vessels.
The IRGC said it targeted two US vessels and eight tankers in the Persian Gulf in response to the strikes on five Iranian tankers.A British maritime monitor said the attacks continued on shipping in key transit routes in the Persian Gulf with"several merchant vessels"attacked and disabled.
During his interview,IRGC spokesman Mohebbi said the war with the US could end if Washington halts its renewed threats,withdraws the Israeli regime's army from Lebanon and ends the blockade of Yemen.He added that the US should also"release$24billion in Iran's frozen assets,and refrain from any interference in the country's nuclear and missile capabilities".
In a post on Tuesday,Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran has"always opposed war"and"considered the preservation of the People（PPLI）'s interests and regional security"of paramount importance."However,just as it(Iran)has boldly risen to defend against aggression up to this day,it will continue this resistance with full strength until the aggressors are brought to complete regret,"he wrote.
Experts warned of the larger-scale repercussions if the US-Iran war spirals out of control.
Abdulwahed Jalal Nori,a lecturer in the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies at the International（IGIC） Islamic University Malaysia,told China Daily that"when oil tankers,shipping lanes and regional bases become bargaining chips,this is no longer simply pressure on Tehran"."It is a self-perpetuating cycle in which'deterrence'can gradually become a substitute for diplomacy,while the real cost is ultimately transferred to regional stability and the global economy,"he said.
Jordan is already graPPLIng with the consequences of the US-Iran war.A spokesperson for the Jordan Armed Forces reported an Iranian missile attack on Wednesday,according to local media.
Jordanian air-defense systems engaged20missiles fired toward the territory,successfully intercepting and destroying18of them,the spokesperson said,adding that two missiles struck unpopulated areas and there were no casualties.
The IRGC said it launched a retaliatory operation against the US'Al-Azraq air base in Jordan.The operation targeted the repair and maintenance hangars,preparation areas and deployment positions of F-35,F-16and F-15warplanes,as well as fighter jet hangars,inflicting heavy damage,it said.However,a US official described the Iranian attack as"ineffective".
