Iran Threatens Gulf Exclusion Zone, Claims Advanced Missile Attack on US Warships

Iran has threatened to establish a new maritime “exclusion zone” across the Persian Gulf, warning that vessels entering the restricted area could face sanctions, as Tehran seeks to counter mounting US economic and military pressure.

The warning came alongside Iranian claims that its forces used an advanced Qassem Basir ballistic missile against US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military, however, said its vessels evaded the missile attacks, underscoring the growing military confrontation around one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.

Iran threatens tighter control over Gulf shipping

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Iranian state television that Tehran would soon announce a new restricted maritime zone.

According to Rezaei, the zone would begin around the area where the US blockade of Iran starts and extend into the Persian Gulf. Vessels entering the designated area could subsequently be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.

Rezaei also issued a warning on X, saying Washington had received a clear message from Iran's new missiles and that what he called “economic warfare” would be met with tighter maritime restrictions.

He added that Iran's operational posture toward US warships and military bases had been “fundamentally recalibrated.”

The announcement raises the possibility of further restrictions on commercial shipping in Gulf waters at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already fallen sharply.

Iran claims it fired new Qassem Basir missile

Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had launched a Qassem Basir ballistic missile toward US warships operating near the Strait of Hormuz.

The missile is described by Iranian sources as an upgraded weapon featuring improved manoeuvrability and a guidance system designed to operate despite electronic warfare.

Iran's Fars news agency has said the Qassem Basir was first used in combat against Israel in June 2025.

The US military disputed the implication that Iranian missiles had successfully struck or damaged American vessels, saying its warships evaded the attacks.

The competing accounts could not immediately establish the precise circumstances of the reported missile launch or how close the weapon came to the US ships.

Fighting continues despite pauses

The latest threats come after another round of attacks between the US and Iran.

The United States last reported strikes against Iranian targets on Saturday, including attacks on three Iranian oil tankers.

The broader conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Since then, the fighting has moved through repeated periods of escalation and temporary pauses, with diplomatic efforts failing to produce a lasting settlement.

Despite months of pressure, Iran's leadership remains in place and continues to demand sanctions relief as part of any potential agreement.

Why the Strait of Hormuz is so important

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of Iran's most powerful sources of leverage.

Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

Iran has repeatedly used the possibility of disrupting shipping as a way to pressure Gulf states hosting US military facilities and to influence global energy markets.

Recent shipping data indicates that only around 10 commodity vessels a day have been passing through the strait over the past 10 days—the lowest level reported since May.

That decline suggests that the conflict is already having a significant impact on commercial traffic.

Iran's ability to completely control the waterway may be constrained by the US military presence and the pressure of sanctions. But Tehran still possesses missiles, drones and other capabilities that could threaten tankers and military bases across the region.

Trump links oil prices to victory

The confrontation also carries political consequences for President Donald Trump.

The war remains unpopular in the United States, creating additional political pressure on the administration ahead of the November congressional elections.

Trump has repeatedly linked the conflict to US energy prices. In social media posts, he has predicted that oil prices will fall sharply once the United States “wins” the war with Iran, promising gasoline prices of around $3 a gallon and eventually below $2.

He has also reiterated that Iran “will never have a Nuclear Weapon.”

Yet the continued survival of Iran's leadership after months of fighting presents a challenge to Washington's strategy. Tehran continues to demand sanctions relief and has indicated that it ultimately wants to maintain leverage over shipping through Hormuz, including the possibility of collecting fees from vessels using the waterway.

Lebanon adds another layer of risk

The confrontation is also spilling into other parts of the region.

Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed at least 12 people on Monday, making it one of the deadliest days of bombardment in the area in recent weeks.

The attacks have raised fears of a renewed Israeli campaign against Hezbollah despite the June ceasefire.

For Tehran, developments in Lebanon are directly connected to the possibility of a broader settlement with Washington. Iran has insisted that any lasting agreement must also address Israeli military action in Lebanon.

That demand adds another complicated regional issue to already difficult US-Iran negotiations.

What happens next?

Iran's proposed exclusion zone could become another major flashpoint if Tehran attempts to enforce it against commercial vessels.

For now, it remains unclear exactly where the proposed zone would begin, how it would be enforced and whether Iran would attempt to physically stop vessels entering the area.

The missile claims also highlight the risks facing US forces and commercial shipping. Even if Iran cannot fully shut the Strait of Hormuz, intermittent missile, drone or maritime attacks could keep shipping companies away and maintain pressure on global energy markets.