Iran is once again tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and bringing one of the most delicate maritime passages in the world back under “strict control”. The decision comes in response to the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports, just three days before the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington expires, while a peace agreement continues to seem distant.
Only last Friday the Islamic Republic announced the reopening of the route, which is fundamental for global energy trade: approximately a fifth of the oil and gas traded in the world passes through Hormuz. But the about-face was rapid. Tehran has reinstated restrictions and raised the level of conflict.
Shortly after the announcement, at least three commercial ships trying to cross the strait were shot at. The Guardians of the Revolution have warned that any attempt to approach will be considered a form of collaboration with the enemy and, as such, targeted. The reaction of American President Donald Trump was harsh, accusing Tehran of using the strategic passage as an instrument of “blackmail”.
Three days until the ceasefire expires
Just two days ago, the announcement of the reopening of Hormuz had given relief to the markets and pushed oil prices down. Now, however, the new tightening risks causing further turbulence when trading reopens.
On a diplomatic level, attempts are underway to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table, after the failure of the first meeting on 12 April in Islamabad. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty explained that he is working “non-stop”, together with Pakistan, to encourage a resumption of dialogue. The distances, however, remain profound.
Trump claims that Tehran would have agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, the crux of the crisis, but Iran has denied this. The president of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, present at the talks with the American delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, admitted some progress, but also clarified that “many differences remain” and that several fundamental points still remain unresolved. He then reiterated the total lack of trust in the United States, calling on Washington to abandon a unilateral approach.
Iran ‘breaks’ with Trump: “He talks too much and we don’t know what he says”
Meanwhile, the crisis continues to spread in Lebanon as well. In the south of the country, a French soldier from the Unifil mission was killed and three others were injured, two of them seriously, in an ambush attributed to Hezbollah. The Shiite movement, however, denied any involvement. The incident occurred the day after a ten-day truce came into force. In the same area, the Israeli army announced the establishment of a “yellow line” of demarcation, on the model of what was done in Gaza.
For his part, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that the ceasefire cannot be one-way. “Because we don’t trust the enemy, resistance fighters will remain on the ground, with their finger on the trigger, ready to respond to any violation,” he said.
In the southern outskirts of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, many civilians took advantage of the pause in fighting to return to check on their homes. But the fear of new raids pushed them back towards makeshift camps along the coast. The war in Lebanon began on March 2, when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the Israeli-American offensive against Iran. According to authorities, Israeli bombings have caused at least 2,300 deaths and displaced over a million