Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Amid US Naval Blockade

On Saturday morning, Iran’s military announced it had shut down the Strait of Hormuz. This decision came after the U.S. refused to lift a naval blockade that was hindering Iranian vessels from navigating through the strait.

A representative from Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya, the central command of Iran’s military remnants, spoke to the state-run Tasnim news agency. This statement followed a previous agreement with the U.S. to reopen the strait, which, according to the spokesperson, has now been reversed.

“After earlier negotiations that were meant to be constructive, we allowed a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships to pass through the Strait in a controlled manner,” the spokesperson explained. “Unfortunately, the U.S. continues its acts of theft and piracy under the guise of a blockade.”

The spokesperson also declared that control of the Strait has reverted to its former state, placing it under strict military authority once again.

The Iranian administration communicated that unrestricted navigation in the strait would only be possible if the U.S. lifted its limitations on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports.

These statements followed President Trump’s announcement on Friday that Iran had agreed to open the strait and was in the process of clearing mines from the waterway. Additionally, he mentioned that Iran had consented to cease its nuclear program and transfer enriched uranium from several facilities.

Trump expressed optimism that an agreement with Iran could be reached “within the next day or two,” stating, “The Iranians are eager for discussions. They want a deal… I think we’ll achieve a deal soon.”

He hinted he might participate in further negotiations in Pakistan, where prior talks led by Vice President J.D. Vance had recently collapsed.

The U.S. naval blockade on ships linked to Iran has intensified pressure on the regime, with reports indicating that Iran might only have about two weeks left before it has to start halting oil production due to a lack of storage for raw materials and fuel.

Anika Ganzefeld from the American Enterprise Institute remarked, “Once the tanks are filled, Iran will face the necessity of shutting down its fields, which could lead to long-term damage to resources.”

Aside from maintaining the blockade, Washington also dismissed the notion of releasing billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in connection with uranium dealings and made it clear that there is no specific timeline for Iran to restart its nuclear program under the current deal.