緊張升高！伊朗再度重劃荷姆茲控制區 寬度擴大10倍 – 自由時報

Iran has significantly expanded its designated control zone in the Strait of Hormuz, redefining the strategic waterway as a broad operational area. The move increases the width of the controlled zone approximately tenfold, according to a report from Reuters on May 12, 2026.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that the Iranian government no longer views the strait as a narrow region surrounding a few islands. He indicated that Tehran has substantially expanded both the geographical scope and the military significance of the area.

Redefining Strategic Boundaries

Under the new definition, the control zone is now demarcated as a strategic region stretching from the city of Jask in the east to Siri Island in the west. This replaces the previous definition, which Akbarzadeh noted had limited the strait to a narrow area encircling islands such as Hormuz and Hengam.

Reports from the Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency on May 12 indicated that this latest announcement further extends Iran’s reach in the region. According to the Tasnim News Agency, the expanded area now forms a complete crescent shape.

The scale of the expansion is significant. The width of the strait’s control zone, previously estimated to be between 20 and 30 miles, has been increased to between 200 and 300 miles.

Timeline of Escalation

This is the second time Tehran has announced an expansion of the Strait of Hormuz region since February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel conducted attacks against Iran.

The first expansion occurred on May 4, 2026, when the IRGC Navy released a map showing a new control zone extending along the coastline of the Gulf of Oman in the United Arab Emirates. That specific zone stretched from Mount Mobarak in Iran and the emirate of Fujairah in the east to Qeshm Island in Iran and the emirate of Umm al Quwain in the west.

Global Economic Implications

The Strait of Hormuz serves as the primary gateway to the Persian Gulf and is the critical export route for major oil-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Qatar.

Approximately one-fifth of the global supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil passes through the strait, making any shift in regional control a matter of international economic concern.