Iran announces upcoming ‘prohibited zone’ near Strait of Hormuz

The Times of Israel reports that Iranian officials have announced plans to declare a prohibited zone near the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days. This decision follows a period of heightened tension and recent clashes between Iranian and United States forces. According to the report, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest level since May. Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of Energy stated that while a nuclear deal may not be reached, Iran's capacity to construct a nuclear weapon could potentially be neutralized.