Iran’s Security Chief Calls Trump’s Hormuz Open Claim a ‘Big Lie’, Plans New Restricted Zone Outside Strait

September 7, 2026

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, calling it a “big lie” and asserting that the strategic waterway is “completely closed”.

Rezaei also said Tehran would announce a new “restricted area” outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, potentially expanding the zone where Iran plans to impose restrictions on maritime traffic.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States during the ongoing West Asia conflict, with both sides making competing claims about the movement of vessels through the strategically important waterway.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘completely closed’

Speaking to Iranian state media, Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz was completely closed and accused Trump of making a false claim about maritime traffic.

He contrasted the current movement of vessels with traffic before what Iran describes as the closure of the Strait following a US-Israeli strike on Tehran.

According to Rezaei, more than 100 vessels carrying over 100 million tonnes of goods previously passed through the Strait, while the number has now fallen to around seven to eight vessels, which he said are carrying essential goods for Iran.

The claims were made by the Iranian security chief and were not independently verified in the material provided.

Iran claims US-linked vessels intercepted

Rezaei further claimed that US-linked vessels attempting to move through the area covertly had been intercepted and attacked.

He said Iran was able to detect and target what he described as American smuggling vessels, while claiming that the United States had been attempting to move several ships through the area at significant cost.

According to Rezaei, Iran had not decided to sink such vessels because of concerns over the environmental impact of the oil they were carrying.

The comments point to the growing risks surrounding commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating regional tensions.

Tehran plans new restricted zone outside Strait of Hormuz

In another significant announcement, Rezaei said Iran would soon declare a new restricted area outside the Strait of Hormuz.

He said the proposed zone would begin from what he described as the US naval blockade line and extend into parts of the Persian Gulf.

Rezaei warned that vessels entering the newly designated area would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.

The proposed restrictions could potentially extend Tehran’s maritime measures beyond the Strait itself and affect a wider area of the Persian Gulf.

Hormuz tensions raise concerns over global shipping

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime route, and developments surrounding its status have wider implications for commercial shipping and energy supplies.

Rezaei’s latest remarks underline the sharp disagreement between Tehran and Washington over the status of maritime traffic through the waterway.

While Trump has claimed that the Strait remains open, Iran’s security chief has asserted the opposite and announced plans for additional restrictions outside the Strait.

The situation remains fluid as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate amid the wider West Asia conflict.