A senior official in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy said Strait of Hormuz has been “significantly expanded” into a broader strategic and operational maritime zone, and Tehran would not allow any violation of its waters or interests, state media reported on Tuesday.
According to Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy of the naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the waterway is no longer viewed as a narrow maritime passage confined to its traditional boundaries.
Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, he said the concept of the Strait of Hormuz has changed following recent conflict dynamics and now encompasses a much wider operational maritime area.
Akbarzadeh stated that the strait, previously considered a limited corridor around islands such as Hormuz, is now seen as an extensive zone stretching from the coasts of Jask to Sirri Island. He added that what was once a 32–48 km (20–30 mile) corridor has effectively expanded into a region roughly 320–480 km (200–300 miles) wide, extending beyond Qeshm Island and Greater Tunb and forming what he described as a “complete arc.”
He said this enlarged area now functions as a broader strategic maritime zone rather than a narrowly defined shipping chokepoint.
Mohammad Akbarzadeh said Iran’s armed forces tracked movements in and around the Strait of Hormuz and stood ready to respond to what he described as provocative actions.
Akbarzadeh said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy closely monitors regional activity and will not allow any violations of its waters or interests. He stated that Iranian forces track movements in and around the Strait of Hormuz and are prepared to respond to what he described as provocative actions, emphasizing that Iran maintains a “precise and authoritative” watch over the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran monitors regional movements with precision and authority and will not allow any encroachment on its waters and interests,” Akbarzadeh said in televised remarks.
Akbarzadeh also said Iran had adopted what he described as a broader strategic approach to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, and that the country’s naval forces remained active in the area.
