Iran reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reversing an earlier announcement to reopen the critical waterway. The decision came after the United States indicated its blockade of Iran-linked shipping would continue, escalating tensions over the strategically vital chokepoint.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that Iran’s joint military command stated that control of the Strait of Hormuz had reverted to its previous state, under the strict management of the armed forces. The command issued a warning that transit through the strait would remain blocked as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports persisted.
The Iranian announcement followed a statement from US President Donald Trump on Friday evening, who said the American blockade would remain in full force until Tehran reached a comprehensive deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme. Trump had previously stated that the US would not end its blockade of Iran-linked shipping.
This development threatened to exacerbate the global energy crisis. Oil prices, which had begun to decline on Friday on hopes of a US-Iran agreement, could see renewed upward pressure. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime passage, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply transits. Any further restrictions on its movement could significantly constrain supply and drive up prices.
Control over the strait has been a significant point of leverage for Iran. In response to perceived threats, the United States had previously deployed forces and initiated a blockade on Iranian ports. This action was reportedly part of an effort to compel Iran to accept a ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, aimed at ending a prolonged conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran.
Iran had initially announced the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels following a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. However, top Iranian officials stated that President Trump’s continued blockade announcement violated the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US, asserting that the strait would not remain open under these circumstances.
Data firm Kpler reported that movement through the Strait of Hormuz remained confined to designated corridors that require Iran’s approval. US Central Command reported via X that US forces had intercepted and turned back 21 ships bound for Iran since the blockade commenced on Monday.
The ceasefire in Lebanon offered a potential pathway for broader peace efforts between the US and Iran. However, the extent to which Hezbollah would adhere to a deal it did not negotiate remained uncertain, particularly with Israeli troops occupying territory in southern Lebanon. President Trump indicated that Israel was prohibited by the US from launching further offensive attacks into Lebanon, stating that the conflict had reached its conclusion.
The State Department clarified that this prohibition applied only to offensive actions and not to measures taken in self-defence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously acknowledged agreeing to the ceasefire in Lebanon at President Trump’s request, but emphasized that the campaign against Hezbollah was ongoing. He claimed that Israel had neutralized approximately 90 percent of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket capabilities and that Israeli forces had not yet completed the dismantling of the group.
In Beirut, displaced families began returning to southern Lebanon and the city’s southern suburbs, despite official warnings to await confirmation of the ceasefire’s stability. The Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported intermittent artillery fire in parts of southern Lebanon in the hours following the ceasefire’s implementation.
An end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was a primary demand of Iranian negotiators, who had previously accused Israel of violating the prior ceasefire with strikes in Lebanon. Israel had maintained that the earlier agreement did not encompass Lebanon.
The broader conflict, encompassing engagements involving Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and Gulf Arab states, has resulted in significant casualties. Official figures indicate at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, over 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Additionally, thirteen US service members have been killed.
The Chenab Times News Desk