Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said the Islamic Republic intends to declare an area outside the Strait of Hormuz as a “prohibited zone.” He said any ship that, with the aim of passing through the Strait of Hormuz, enters this area will be placed on a sanctions list.

Rezaei added: “If, at some time, sanctioned ships want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, we will grab them by the collar right here.”

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council claimed that the effect of this move could be greater than that of more missile attacks.