Iran plans to announce 'exclusion zone' near Strait of Hormuz after US hit three oil tankers

Iran is preparing to announce a new "exclusion zone" around the Strait of Hormuz, escalating an already tense confrontation with the United States in the strategically vital waterway. Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the proposed zone would target vessels that Tehran believes are attempting to pass through the strait. Rezaei made the remarks on Iranian state television on Sunday, but did not provide detailed information about how the proposed exclusion zone would operate. His statement came a day after the US struck three Iranian oil tankers after Tehran launched ballistic missiles towards US warships. Experts have described Iran's recent missile launches as a dangerous escalation, particularly because Tehran's earlier attacks at sea had focused on commercial shipping.