Hormuz under fire: Iran shuts strait amid US sanctions row

TEHRAN: Just 24 hours after briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz following the ceasefire in Lebanon, Iran has once again closed the vital waterway. The Iranian military announced that the Strait will remain closed until the United States lifts its economic sanctions. This closure was immediately punctuated by violence; two gunboats reportedly fired upon a commercial tanker 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. According to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the attack was unprovoked, though the ship and its crew are currently reported safe.

The tension escalated rapidly following a series of conflicting statements from Tehran and Washington:

• The Iranian Position: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi initially indicated that passage through the strait was permitted under the terms of the Lebanon ceasefire. However, he later clarified that any travel through Hormuz must follow a specific route and requires explicit permission from Iran.
• The U.S. Response: President Donald Trump countered by asserting that the U.S. naval blockade of the strait will remain in place until a comprehensive deal with Iran is finalised. Trump further warned that the U.S. may resume airstrikes if an agreement is not reached soon.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded sharply to the U.S. President’s rhetoric. Ghalibaf claimed that "seven claims" made by Trump within a single hour were entirely false, stating:

"You cannot win a war with lies, and you will not get anywhere in peace talks. If the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open. It is not up to social media to decide whether to open or close it."

One of the most contentious points of dispute involves Iran’s nuclear program. While Trump claimed that enriched uranium would be removed from Iranian facilities and transferred to the United States, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has flatly denied this. Officials in Tehran maintain that their uranium stockpile will not be moved and that such a proposal was never part of the ongoing negotiations.