Alex Brandon/Asghar Besharati/AP
By Matthew Robinson
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Iran's military has reimposed "strict control" of the Strait of Hormuz over President Donald Trump's continuing naval blockade.
"Iran agreed to allow a limited number of ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz according to agreements. But the U.S. did not fulfil their obligations. So, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again and passage requires Iran approval," Iran's joint military command said on Saturday, according to the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
The military added the waterway would remain "under strict management and control of the armed forces" as long as the U.S. blockade continued.
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It comes after Trump thanked Iran for agreeing to open the critical waterway on Friday, writing on Truth Social: "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank you."
But he added that the naval blockade would remain in force "until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete."
Trump's comments followed a statement from Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said that the waterway had been "declared completely open" for the "remaining period of the ceasefire."
The two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22.
Alex Brandon/Asghar Besharati/AP
Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, with around a fifth of the world's oil passing through the narrow waterway.
Any disruption to shipments has the potential to send energy prices spiraling and destabilize already volatile global markets.
What To Know
The United States said earlier this week that it would begin a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran had effectively closed the waterway throughout the conflict.
Iran said on Saturday that control of the waterway had "reverted to its previous state" amid an escalating row over the blockade.
The Iranian military's operational command said that the blockade was "piracy," adding: "Until the U.S. restores the complete freedom of navigation for vessels from an Iranian origin to a destination, and from a destination back to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and in its previous state."
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said on Saturday that American forces were enacting the blockade of Iranian ports. It said that 23 ships had responded to U.S. orders to turn around.
CENTCOM added that Apache helicopters were flying in the region "providing a visible presence in support of freedom of navigation."
Meanwhile, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday that it had received reports of a tanker coming under fire from gunboats linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the Strait of Hormuz.
"The master of a tanker reports being approached by two IRGC gun boats, no VHF challenge that then fired upon the tanker. Tanker and crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating," it wrote in a warning.
The incident is reported to have occurred around 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
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