Iran Defies Trump, Shuts Strait Of Hormuz Again

Iran Defies Trump, Shuts Strait Of Hormuz Again

Iran has once again tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, placing the crucial global oil corridor under strict military control in a move seen as a direct challenge to Donald Trump.

The decision was announced by Iran’s joint military command and reported by state media, coming shortly after Washington insisted it would sustain its blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.

A spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya said Tehran had reverted to full control of the strategic waterway following what it described as the United States’ refusal to ease restrictions.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the development effectively means that vessels seeking passage through the strait must now obtain approval from Iranian authorities.

In a statement, the military said Iran had earlier agreed, in good faith, to allow limited and managed passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels during ongoing engagements. However, it accused the United States of continuing what it termed a “so-called blockade,” prompting the latest action.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran… agreed to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships,” the statement noted, adding that the arrangement had now been reversed.

It further declared that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state,” stressing that the waterway would remain under tight supervision until Iranian vessels are granted unrestricted access to international routes.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical oil transit choke points, handling a significant share of global crude exports.

The renewed restrictions come barely a day after Trump had publicly claimed that Iran had committed to keeping the route open following a brief easing of tensions.

“It will no longer be used as a weapon against the world,” the former US president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The latest development is expected to heighten concerns in global energy markets and further strain already fragile relations between Tehran and Washington, with potential ripple effects on oil supply chains and international shipping.

Source: Sky News