Iranian authorities have not issued an independent official confirmation in response to requests for comment on the reported expansion.
Iran has reportedly widened its strategic interpretation of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a far broader operational maritime zone amid ongoing regional tensions, according to remarks attributed to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy official.
The comments were made by Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political director of the IRGC Navy, and were carried by Iranian state-affiliated media, which said the new definition expands beyond the traditional narrow passage near key islands.
According to the report, the revised framework now considers a much larger stretch of surrounding waters, with Iranian officials describing it as a “vast operational area” extending between multiple coastal and island points in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass, linking the Gulf region with international shipping routes.
Iranian media reports suggest this is the second such expansion in recent months, following earlier mapping references that indicated broader maritime zones during heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
However, Iranian authorities have not issued an independent official confirmation in response to requests for comment on the reported expansion.
The development comes amid continued geopolitical sensitivity in the Gulf region, where maritime security and energy transport routes remain under close international observation.
(With inputs from DD News and international news agencies)
