Iran reverses Strait of Hormuz opening amid US blockade

Iran has reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, insisting it will block transit until the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. The move comes after President Donald Trump reaffirmed the blockade’s continuation. With one-fifth of global oil passing through the strait, the closure threatens to drive prices higher.

Cairo: Iran has rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the hugely important waterway as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

The announcement Saturday came after US President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels.

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Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again. Iran’s Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil is shipped, came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.

Despite the escalation, Pakistani officials say the United States and Iran are still moving closer to a deal ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.

 

Iranian lawmaker clarifies conditions for transit through Hormuz

A senior Iranian lawmaker said only commercial vessels authorized by the Revolutionary Guard are allowed to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, said in a social media post late Friday that commercial vessels must pay “required tolls” before transiting the strait, using a route set by Iran last month.

“The time has come to comply with the new Maritime Regime of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “These regulations are determined by Iran, not by social media posts!”

He warned that the mechanism could change “if the U.S. attempts to create any disturbance for Iranian ships.”

Trump rejects notion of tolls by Iran on Strait of Hormuz