Iran expands Strait of Hormuz control zone tenfold

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has dramatically expanded its definition of the Strait of Hormuz into a "vast operational area" stretching hundreds of kilometers, according to a senior IRGC Navy official, marking a significant escalation in Tehran's military posture during its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the IRGC Navy's deputy political director, announced that the strategic waterway is no longer viewed as a narrow passage around islands such as Hormuz and Hengam but instead spans from the city of Jask in the east to Siri Island in the west, with its width increasing from 32-48 kilometers to between 321-482 kilometers. The expanded zone forms what Iranian state media described as a "complete crescent" of military control. The announcement follows an earlier May 4 declaration in which the IRGC Navy published a map showing a new zone of control extending along much of the UAE's Gulf of Oman coastline, from Iran's Mount Mobarak and the UAE's Fujairah emirate in the east to Iran's Qeshm Island and the UAE's Umm al Quwain in the west. The latest statement appears to represent a further widening of that operational area. Meanwhile, Kuwait announced that authorities had foiled an alleged infiltration attempt by four IRGC members, including two navy colonels, who attempted to enter the country aboard a fishing boat bound for Bubiyan Island, according to Kuwait's interior ministry. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned on Tuesday that Iran should not use the Strait of Hormuz "as a weapon to pressure or to blackmail the Gulf countries," echoing concerns from Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who joined him at a press conference in Doha. The strait handles approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and Iran's blockade has severely disrupted crucial maritime exports for energy-rich Gulf states already grappling with economic fallout from the wider regional conflict. Iran's government spokesperson stated that Tehran remains "holding the trigger" while pursuing negotiations, underscoring the fragile state of diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities.