Iran reimposes tight control over Strait of Hormuz amid US tensions

TEHRAN: Iran’s Central Military Command announced on Saturday that it would resume “strict management” of the Strait of Hormuz, reversing a decision to unblock the strategic channel as part of talks with Washington.

In a statement shared on state television, the headquarters said Washington had broken its promise by continuing its naval blockade of ships entering and leaving Iranian ports.

The statement said that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would remain under strict control until the United States restores freedom of movement for all ships visiting Iran.

President Donald Trump said late Friday that he intended to maintain the US blockade of Iranian ports if a peace deal is not reached with Tehran, adding that he could not extend it after the ceasefire expires.

Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, although Tehran had threatened to close the vital waterway again if the US blockade continued.

The ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is set to expire on Wednesday.

“I may not extend it, but the blockade will remain,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, when asked if the ceasefire would be extended.

Trump, insisting that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a deal is reached, has once again threatened to close the strait.

Then, late Saturday morning, citing a statement from the Military Central Command, Iranian state TV reported that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous status” and is “under strict management and control of the armed forces,” blaming the ongoing US blockade.

The announcement came as maritime tracking sites showed several ships passing through the narrow waterway, closely hugging Iranian territorial waters as directed by Tehran and, for some, broadcasting their identities as Indian or Chinese in an apparent attempt to show their neutrality.

The same sites showed that late Friday, several ships began moving toward the strait before suddenly turning back amid the uncertainty.

By 0900 GMT on Saturday, several ships had fully transited the strait in both directions, but at least two tankers headed east from the Gulf towards India before turning around and ending their journey after loading in UAE ports.