Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said that the Islamic Republic will announce a new, additional restricted area in the coming days, starting from the line of the U.S. Navy’s blockade and covering parts of the Persian Gulf. According to him, any ship that enters this area will be placed on the Islamic Republic’s sanctions list.

Rezaei, in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s state TV, called the Strait of Hormuz “completely closed” and said Donald Trump, the U.S. president,‘s remarks about this waterway being open are “a big lie.”

He said that at present, a maximum of seven to eight ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, five to six of which carry essential goods for Iran. Rezaei added that the United States sometimes allows five to six vessels to pass along the route close to Oman, and these vessels “are usually targeted.”