Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed again, despite Trump’s optimism
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Iran announced on Saturday that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz shortly after reopening it to shipping traffic. President Donald Trump warned that Tehran’s attempt to shut down the waterway would not be a successful tactic to blackmail the U.S.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired on a tanker passing through the strait. The tanker and its crew were reported safe, although the specific details were not disclosed.
Initially, Iran declared the strait open to commercial ships during a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. However, confusion arose regarding the actual conditions of passage through the sea lane.
Iranian state media later announced the closure of the strait, attributing it to the U.S.’s failure to fulfill its obligations. The ongoing blockade of Iranian ports by the U.S. was cited as the reason for the strait’s closure.
President Trump mentioned that talks with Iran were progressing well and expected more information by the end of the day. He made these remarks during an event at the White House where he signed an executive order related to expedited reviews of certain psychedelic drugs for mental illness.
Despite the positive tone of the talks, Trump emphasized that Iran could not blackmail the U.S. and hinted at the possibility of not extending the ceasefire agreement, which is set to end soon.
In a separate development, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council revealed that it was reviewing new proposals presented by the U.S. The conditions for further negotiations included the U.S. abandoning excessive demands and adjusting requests to match the realities on the ground.
The uncertainty surrounding the status of the Strait of Hormuz has left ship operators in limbo. Several vessels attempted to exit the waterway but were forced to turn back due to lack of approval.
The closure of the strait has had a significant impact on global oil prices, with a fifth of the world’s crude supplies passing through the affected area. The situation has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history.
As the negotiations continue, the issue of recovering enriched uranium from Iran’s nuclear program remains a major sticking point. Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, but Iranian officials dismissed these claims and expressed caution regarding future talks with the U.S.
Overall, the situation in the region remains tense, with both sides engaging in diplomatic efforts while maintaining their respective positions.
