Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again After US Fails to Fulfill Promise Amid Rising Tensions

The Iranian military has reclosed the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of failing to keep its promises. The announcement of the waterway’s reopening on Friday initially had a positive impact on global markets. However, US President Donald Trump stated that until a peace agreement is reached, the US will continue to blockade vessels departing from the Gulf region. Marine tracking data show four LPG gas carriers along with numerous oil and petrochemical tankers moving through the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. Following the US Central Command’s blockade on Monday, 21 vessels were turned back.

Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited an IRGC statement saying Iranian forces have reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz. The military condemned the US’s ‘so-called blockade’ as ‘maritime piracy’ and expressed dissatisfaction. Iranian forces indicated that the reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz was necessitated by the US’s failure to remove the blockade on this vital waterway as promised.

The operation of the Strait of Hormuz has become a point of contention between the US and Iran. On Friday, President Trump claimed progress toward an agreement between the two nations, a claim rejected by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. Earlier that day, Iran’s Foreign Minister had announced the reopening of the strait for commercial shipping, emphasizing that vessels must use designated safe routes. State television quoted a senior military official stating that while ships can use the assigned passages, military vessels remain prohibited from transiting the strait.