Iran’s military has once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the US continues to blockade Iranian ports. This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump celebrated the vital shipping route being reopened.
According to Iranian state media, Fars News, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the strait will return “to its previous state”, with armed forces controlling the area.
“Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces. Until the US restores full freedom of movement for vessels travelling to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and unchanged.”
The IRGC statement came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday declared the strait “completely open” for all commercial vessels.
The decision was made in line with the ceasefire announcement in Lebanon, he said on US social media platform X. Trump also confirmed a Lebanon ceasefire had been secured and took personal credit for its implementation on Truth Social.
Elsewhere, Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) speaker has categorically refuted successive false claims made by the US President regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the rules set by the Islamic Republic on transit through the strategic waterway.
In a post on X on Friday, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf wrote, “The US president made seven claims in the span of one hour, all seven of which are false.”
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Earlier, Trump had taken to his Truth Social platform, alleging that Iran had “agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.” He had also claimed that the United States’ “naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.”
Trump had additionally said that ceasefire negotiations “should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated.”
Qalibaf, however, asserted that “if the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.”
He also underlined, “Passage through the Strait of Hormuz will take place based on a designated route and with Iran’s authorisation.”
“Whether the strait remains open or closed, and the rules governing it, will be determined on the battlefield, not on social media.”
On April 7, Trump announced a two-week lull in attacks after the closure sent shockwaves throughout the global energy markets, with the US president experiencing momentous further drop in his popularity as a result of spiking gasoline prices.
This latest development casts renewed doubt over the status of the strait and the chaotic mess that has been the negotiation effort between the US and Iran.
Trump remains confident that he can secure a deal with Iran to end the war but his statements related to the terms of any deal are often completely different to what Tehran claims is acceptable for an end to hostilities.
