Tehran: Just when things were starting to look up, Iran reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating a ceasefire.
Tehran, on Friday evening, had announced that the Strait is open to commercial shipping till the ceasefire holds.
The US had acknowledged this move, but Donald Trump had insisted that the blockade of Iranian ports would continue, effectively blocking Iran-linked shipping.
In response to this, Iran’s joint military command said that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”
It would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect, India Today reported.
This comes barely hours before US and Iranian negotiators are to sit across each other for a fresh round of talks on Monday. The talks are to be held in Islamabad, Iranian officials told CNN.
Many believe that Trump’s hardline stance that the American blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with Washington, including on its nuclear programme, will do little to ease the global energy crisis.
Oil prices had begun to fall on Friday amid hopes that the US and Iran were moving closer to an agreement. However, renewed restrictions risk tightening supply again. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait, and any disruption could drive prices higher.
Control over the Strait remains one of Iran’s key points of leverage. The situation has prompted the US to deploy forces and initiate a blockade on Iranian ports as part of efforts to push Tehran to accept a ceasefire aimed at ending nearly seven weeks of conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran.
While shipping data firm Kpler said vessel movement through the strait remains limited to corridors requiring Iran’s approval, the US Central Command said American forces have sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began on Monday, according to a post on X.
