Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again as US Blockade Standoff Escalates

Iran has again restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reversing a brief reopening of the key maritime route after the United States said its blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.

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Iranian officials announced on Saturday that the waterway had been returned to its earlier status of strict military control. The move comes amid continued tensions following the US decision to maintain pressure on Tehran despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, carrying roughly one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Military control reinstated

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said the strait was now under “strict management and control” by the country’s armed forces.

Officials stated that the restrictions would remain unless Washington guaranteed freedom of navigation for vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.

Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh repeated that position during remarks to reporters at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey. He said the United States could not impose what he described as a siege on Iran while Tehran was attempting to allow safe passage through the waterway.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy issued a similar warning in a statement posted on social media, saying the strait’s status would remain unchanged as long as ships travelling to and from Iran faced threats. It added that any breach of commitments by the United States would prompt a response.

Tanker incident reported

A British maritime monitoring agency said an oil tanker reported being fired upon while travelling through the strait on Saturday.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said the vessel’s captain reported that two boats believed to belong to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached the tanker roughly 20 nautical miles north-east of Oman before opening fire. No radio warning was issued before the incident, according to the report.

The agency said the tanker and its crew were safe, and that authorities were investigating the episode.

Separately, Reuters reported that an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil was also attacked while navigating the waterway.

Reversal after brief reopening

Iran had originally closed the strait on 4 March following US-Israeli air strikes on Iranian territory. The government announced on Friday that shipping lanes would reopen after a 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached as part of wider efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Maritime tracking data indicated that at least eight oil and gas tankers were able to pass through the strait during the short period when the route was open early on Saturday.

However, the reopening was quickly reversed after US President Donald Trump said the American blockade of Iranian ports would continue “in full force” until a permanent agreement with Tehran was reached.

Trump also suggested that the temporary ceasefire with Iran, brokered by Pakistan and set to expire on Wednesday, might not be extended.

Despite the renewed restrictions, diplomatic activity continues. US and Iranian representatives are expected to hold another round of talks, although no date has been announced.

Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, said there was hope that an agreement could be reached soon.

“Not only us in the region, but the whole world is suffering from the continuation of this war,” he said, expressing optimism that progress could be made in the coming days.

The repeated disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has already pushed energy prices higher, underlining the strategic importance of the passage to global markets.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 19 April 2026

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