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Iran has expanded its explanation of the Strait of Hormuz into a “vast operational area” acold wider than earlier the Iran war, according to a elder serviceman successful the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.
The strait is nary longer viewed arsenic a constrictive agelong astir a fistful of islands but instead has been greatly enlarged successful scope and subject significance, said Mr. Mohammad Akbarzadeh, lawman governmental manager of the IRGC Navy, the state-affiliated Fars quality bureau reported on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).
“In the past, the Strait of Hormuz was defined arsenic a constricted country astir islands specified arsenic Hormuz and Hengam, but contiguous this presumption has changed,” Mr. Akbarzadeh said.
Iranian authorities did not reply to a Reuters petition for contiguous comment.
About a 5th of the world’s lipid and liquefied earthy state proviso usually passes done the strait, which is the gateway to the Gulf and main export way for countries specified arsenic Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar.
Mr. Akbarzadeh said the strait is present defined arsenic a strategical portion stretching from the metropolis of Jask successful the eastbound to Siri Island successful the west, describing it arsenic “a immense operational area”.
The reported enlargement is the 2nd announced by Iran since the commencement of its struggle with the U.S. and Israel.
On Monday (May 11, 2026) , the IRGC Navy published a representation showing a caller portion of power extending on important a agelong of the UAE’s Gulf of Oman coastline.
That stretched from Iran’s Mount Mobarak and the UAE’s emirate of Fujairah successful the eastbound to Iran’s Qeshm Island and the UAE emirate of Umm al Quwain successful the west.
Tuesday’s (May 12, 2026) announcement appears to correspond a widening of that area.
Fars and Tasnim, different Iranian quality agency, reported connected Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that the strait’s width, which they said was previously estimated astatine 20 to 30 miles, had present accrued to betwixt 200 and 300 miles.
The expanded portion forms a “complete crescent”, Tasnim said.
