The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announces that it is closing the Strait of Hormuz again

Although Iran announced this Friday the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the agreed 10-day truce, this Saturday there has been a step back: the Middle Eastern country has assured that it will once again impose "strict control" over the passage. This plot twist comes after the United States maintained the blockade against Iranian ports yesterday. "Control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state and this strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the Armed Forces," announced the spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfagari, in a statement collected by the Tasnim agency.

The announcement by the military spokesman implies severe restrictions on maritime traffic in one of the world's main energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz is key for the passage of hydrocarbons; in fact, 20% of the world's oil passes through it. The announcement of the opening of the corridor on Friday sent its value plummeting. Specifically, Brent crude oil—the benchmark in Europe—fell by 9.07% and stood at $90.38. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude—the benchmark in the United States—fell even more: by 11.45%, to $83.85. Iran's new announcement will not be reflected in commodities or markets until the respective sessions open.

Zolfagari stated that Tehran had previously allowed the "limited and managed" passage of some oil and commercial vessels as a "gesture of good faith" within the framework of negotiations. According to him, however, they have decided to reverse this measure due to the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports. The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has described the US stance as a breach of commitment by Washington. "As long as the United States does not restore full freedom of transit for vessels from and to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under rigorous control," he maintained.

Cross accusations

This early morning, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned via the social network X that the Strait of Hormuz "will not be open" if the American blockade continues, denouncing "false claims" by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, about the strategic maritime passage and peace negotiations. "With these lies you did not win the war and, without a doubt, you will not achieve anything in the negotiations either," asserted Qalibaf, who led his country's delegation in last Saturday's negotiations with the US in Islamabad.

The Iranian leader also pointed out that maritime traffic through the strait will be carried out according to "designated routes" and with "Iran's authorization." Trump said last night, in a speech in Arizona, that the strait is "completely open" for trade and raised the possibility of entering Iran to extract enriched uranium with excavators along with the Islamic Republic, something that the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Bagaei, rejected in an interview with state television.