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Iran reasserts control of Hormuz Strait as Trump warns against ‘blackmail’
TL;DR
Iran's IRGC Navy has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening to target any ships attempting to pass through. This announcement follows a brief reopening of the critical shipping lane and is linked to the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian vessels.
Key points
- Iran's IRGC Navy declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.
- Any ship attempting to pass will be targeted.
- Closure linked to U.S. naval blockade on Iranian vessels.
- Iran claims blockade violates ceasefire agreement.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserts control over the strait.
Mentioned in this story
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps NavyMohammad Bagher GhalibafUnited States
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) says the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any ship that attempts to pass through the waterway will be targeted, a dramatic reversal less than 24 hours after the critical shipping lane was reopened.
In a statement carried by Iran’s Student News Agency, the IRGC navy said on Saturday the strait will be closed until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports. It said the blockade was a violation of the ongoing ceasefire agreement in the US-Israel war on Iran.
“We warn that no vessel of any kind should move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted,” it said.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and a senior negotiator in talks between Washington and Tehran on ending the war, said in a television interview that “the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Islamic Republic”.
“The Americans have been declaring a blockade for several days now. This is a clumsy and ignorant decision,” he added.
The reassertion of control came just hours after Iran had briefly reopened the strait, in line with a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Oil prices dropped on global markets after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the waterway was “completely open for all commercial vessels.”
More than a dozen commercial ships passed through the waterway before the IRGC reversed course.
Iranian gunboats reportedly fired on two commercial ships on Saturday, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). India’s Ministry of External Affairs also said that two Indian-flagged ships were involved in a “shooting incident” in the strait.
Some merchant vessels in the region received radio messages from the IRGC Navy, warning that no ships were being allowed through the strait.
US President Donald Trump said Tehran could not blackmail Washington by closing the waterway and warned that he would put an end to the ceasefire if a deal before its expiry on Wednesday is not reached. Trump added that the naval blockade would “remain in full force”.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, said the navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.
‘Two competing blockades’
Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi said that Iran and the US are back where they were the previous day.
“Less than 24 hours ago, world leaders were praising what they thought was a breakthrough in this conflict, hoping Iran was signalling a confidence-building measure by opening the Strait of Hormuz, potentially leading to a ceasefire deal and a permanent end to the war,” he said.
Q&A
Why did Iran close the Strait of Hormuz again?
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian vessels, claiming it violates a ceasefire agreement.
What did the IRGC say about vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz?
The IRGC warned that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a threat and could be targeted.
Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and what did he say about the strait?
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is Iran's parliament speaker who stated that the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Islamic Republic.
What are the implications of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian vessels?
The U.S. naval blockade is seen by Iran as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, escalating tensions in the region and affecting international shipping.
