​Iran has expanded its definition of the Strait of Hormuz ‌into a “vast operational area” far wider than before the ​Iran war, according to a senior officer in ⁠the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

The strait is no longer viewed as a narrow stretch around a handful of islands but ‌instead has been greatly enlarged in scope and military significance, said Mr. Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political director of ‌the IRGC Navy, the state-affiliated Fars news agency ‌reported ⁠on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).

“In the past, the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was defined as a limited area around islands such as Hormuz and Hengam, but today this view has changed,” Mr. Akbarzadeh said.

Iranian authorities did ​not reply to a ‌Reuters request for immediate comment.

About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply normally passes through the strait, which is the gateway to the Gulf ‌and main export route for countries such as ​Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar.

Mr. Akbarzadeh said the strait is now defined as a strategic zone stretching from ⁠the city of Jask in the east to Siri Island in the west, describing it as “a vast operational area”.

The ‌reported expansion is the second announced by Iran since the start of its conflict with the U.S. and Israel.

On Monday (May 11, 2026) , the IRGC Navy published a map showing a new zone of control extending along significant a stretch of the UAE’s Gulf of Oman coastline.

That stretched ‌from Iran’s Mount Mobarak and the UAE’s emirate of Fujairah in ​the east to Iran’s Qeshm Island and the UAE emirate of Umm al Quwain in the ⁠west.

Tuesday’s (May 12, 2026) announcement appears to represent a widening of that area.

Fars and ⁠Tasnim, another Iranian news agency, reported on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that the strait’s width, which they said was ‌previously estimated at 20 to 30 miles, had now increased to between 200 and 300 miles.

The expanded zone ​forms a “complete crescent”, Tasnim said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday (April 6, 2026) that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has undergone “irreversible strategic changes” and will never return to its previous status.

Iran-Israel war updates on April 6, 2026

“The era of foreign hegemony over this critical waterway is definitely over,” the IRGC Navy said in a statement. Recent regional developments have established a new reality so that the U.S. can no longer dictate terms in Iran’s immediate maritime environment, it said.

“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous status, especially for the U.S. and the Zionist regime,” the IRGC said, adding that Iran would continue to defend its sovereignty and the security of the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC statement came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump put out an expletive-ridden post on social media asking Iran to open the Strait. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. Open the F*** Strait, you crazy b****, or you’ll be living in Hell,” the U.S. President said. Mr. Trump in the past had issued several deadlines to Iran to reopen the Strait or face severe bombing.

On Sunday (April 5, 2026), Mr. Trump said the U.S. was in talks with Iran and a deal could be possible by April 6, threatening to “blow up everything” if a deal is not reached.

The IRGC said the Guards have made plans to establish a new indigenous security architecture in the Persian Gulf based on the principle that the region’s security and stability must be guaranteed by the littoral states.

“These preparations include enhanced naval deployment, advanced monitoring systems, and coordinated rapid-response capabilities, all designed to safeguard Iran’s territorial waters and ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy through the strait,” the Guards said.