Iran’s military has again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, only hours after briefly reopening the vital waterway to commercial traffic. The move has renewed uncertainty over efforts to reach a peace deal in the ongoing US Israeli war with Iran.
Tehran announced on Friday that the strait which normally carries about one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments was open following a ceasefire in Lebanon that paused Israel’s war with Hezbollah. That decision sent oil prices sharply lower and raised hopes of easing tensions.
However, Iran warned it would shut the strait again as long as the United States maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports. On Saturday, state TV quoted the country’s military central command as saying control of the strait had returned to its previous status and was under strict management by the armed forces because of the continued US blockade.
Ship tracking data showed several vessels making a rapid passage through the narrow channel, sailing close to Iranian waters as instructed by Tehran. Some ships reportedly transmitted their identity as Indian or Chinese to signal neutrality, while others that had started towards the strait on Friday turned back amid the confusion.
By mid morning on Saturday a number of ships had completed their transit in both directions. But at least two tankers that had left United Arab Emirates ports for India appeared to have reversed course and abandoned their journeys.
The back and forth over the strait has cast doubt on US President Donald Trump’s claim that a peace agreement to end the conflict with Iran is very close. The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several top officials.
The fighting quickly spread across the region. Iran hit US interests in the Gulf, while Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the conflict by firing rockets at Israel. A two week ceasefire is currently in place, with only four days left before it expires.
Pakistan has emerged as the main mediator. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir just completed a three day visit to Iran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has toured Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to push the peace process. Islamabad recently hosted a marathon round of direct talks attended by US Vice President JD Vance and is expected to host a second round in the coming week.
Two major issues still threaten the negotiations. One is the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at about 440 kilogrammes at 60 percent purity. Trump has claimed Iran agreed to hand over this material, saying it would be removed with excavators. But Iran’s foreign ministry has publicly rejected any plan to transfer its uranium abroad, insisting the issue was never on the table.
The other unresolved point is how the Strait of Hormuz will be managed after any deal. Iran insists it cannot be pressured or blackmailed over control of the waterway, while the United States has vowed to keep its naval presence until an agreement is finalised.
Despite the ceasefire, many ordinary Iranians remain cut off from the global internet. Monitoring group NetBlocks says the wartime blackout that began at the start of the conflict has now lasted 50 days.
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