By JAN YUMUL in Hong Kong and CUI HAIPEI in Dubai, UAE |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captures an unmanned submersible on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz. The submersible was equipped with what the IRGC described as the world's most-advanced subsurface vehicle technology. Sepahnews via AP
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced on Wednesday that its "new maritime restricted zone" would extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and any vessel that attempted to cross the prohibited corridor without coordination with Iran would be sanctioned. It added that the precise coordinates would be announced later.
The development is likely to further escalate tensions in the Middle East, which just witnessed the biggest declared wave of tit-for-tat attacks on shipping since the start of the United States-Iran war six months ago. Iran said it targeted 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank five of its oil tankers on Tuesday.
