Iran Closes Strait Of Hormuz Yet Again After U.S Continues To Block Its Port Facilities

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the status of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its ‘previous state’ because the U.S continues to block Iranian ports.

U.S President Donald Trump responded by saying that the naval blockade will ‘remain in full force’ until their ‘transaction with Iran is 100% complete.’

This has yet again caused confusion and chaos among shipping companies and operators whose ships had a hope of safe transit through the strategic maritime chokepoint.

Previously, Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, said the strait is “completely open” to all commercial vessels, “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon”, and on the route already announced.

However, the situation escalated after Israel attacked Lebanon.

Trump stated that Israel is ‘prohibited’ from bombing Lebanon, as the first day of the ceasefire saw people return to their homes, which they were forced to flee due to Israeli strikes.

Michael Shoebridge, director of the Strategic Analysis Australia think-tank, told Al-Jazeera that seeing Iran close the Strait of Hormuz again because America did not lift its blockade of Iranian ports is a major setback.

He added that Trump had overplayed his hand because he is desperate to present himself as the winner.

Trump had reiterated that an agreement with Iran is close, but now it would be hard to achieve as the U.S shifted its position yet again.

The Revolutionary Guard said that vessels which crossed the Hormuz in the past hour did so because of goodwill from the Iranian side despite the U.S blockade. Additionally, these ships were not linked to the country’s enemies.

Through this move, Iran wants to portray itself as a controller of the Hormuz through which almost 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.

This can be seen in a map that the IRGC published recently. There was a clearly demarcated danger zone in the southern waters near Oman, and a safe zone closer to the Iranian coastlines.

Iran also mentioned war reparations to be obtained through the tolls it plans to impose on ships passing through the Hormuz, making it clear that this is a card Tehran would not give up easily.

From the broader picture, one can conclude that Iran wants to end the war in the region on its own terms and by securing security assurances, sanctions relief and unfreezing its frozen assets and most importantly, by not giving up its nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

However, given the present situation, there is widespread uncertainty.

On the backdrop of these events, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye held a 3rd consultative meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, exchanging views on shifting regional dynamics and emphasising the role of dialogue and diplomacy to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan mediated the peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, which were held in Islamabad last week.

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt have also been involved in diplomatic efforts, with their foreign ministers meeting regularly since the war started on February 28.