Iran Announces New Missile Threat and Proposed Exclusion Zone

Iran’s state news agency reported that Mohsen Rezaei, head of the Supreme National Security Council, warned Tehran would act against any perceived threat, even before it materializes. He highlighted the recently unveiled Qassem Basir missile—described as a solid-fueled system with an estimated range of at least 1,200 km (745 mi), improved accuracy, extended reach and a half-ton warhead. The missile was said to have been “tested” against a U.S. warship, though confirmation of the specific weapon used was lacking. The development follows a broader escalation that began on 28 February when U.S. and Israeli strikes initiated the current war.

The Independent

U.S. forces responded to missile launches that targeted U.S. naval vessels by striking three Iranian oil tankers. The U.S. Navy reported that its warships evaded the incoming fire. The U.S. military also noted that, as of Monday, 94 commercial vessels had been rerouted and three mines had been disabled in the Strait of Hormuz. Data-provider Kpler observed a sharp decline in transits through the waterway the week before. A recent attack on a Saudi-owned tanker resulted in two crew deaths and seven crew members listed as missing, representing the deadliest commercial vessel loss since the war’s start.

The Independent

Rezaei announced plans for an “exclusion zone” near the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that vessels must follow a route chosen by Tehran. The White House countered that the strait remains open, is under U.S. control, and that the U.S. Navy has cleared mines, allowing increased tanker traffic to non-Iranian ports. Washington also emphasized that the missile launches were aimed at U.S. ships, prompting the retaliatory strikes on Iranian tankers.

The Independent

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, warned that no single state should dominate the strait and cautioned that regional energy exports could be held hostage. Nabil Fahmy, secretary-general of the Arab League, echoed this sentiment, rejecting the use of maritime corridors as bargaining chips and condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations. The UAE, a close U.S. ally, has recently suspended all trade with Iran after renewed missile and drone fire.

The Independent

The combination of a new long-range missile, Tehran’s proposed exclusion zone, and the redirection of commercial shipping heightens the risk of further naval confrontations and threatens global oil and gas supply routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Regional leaders stress that prolonged disputes could undermine decades-long trade patterns and destabilize the broader Gulf economy.

The Independent