Iran has once again tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after briefly reopening the vital shipping route that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
According to state television, military authorities announced that the passage is now under “strict management and control of the armed forces,” citing an ongoing naval blockade by the United States as the reason for the move.
Despite the renewed restrictions, maritime tracking data indicated that several commercial vessels hurried through the narrow channel. Some ships reportedly sailed close to Iranian waters while broadcasting Indian or Chinese identities to signal neutrality. By mid-morning GMT, at least eight oil and gas tankers had successfully crossed, though others appeared to reverse course.
The latest development raises uncertainty over remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed that a peace agreement between Washington, Israel, and Tehran was “very close.”
Iran had earlier reopened the strait following a ceasefire in Lebanon that paused hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. That decision briefly eased oil prices before Tehran warned it could shut the route again if the blockade persisted.
With just four days remaining before the expiration of the two-week ceasefire, diplomatic efforts have intensified. Mediation led by Pakistan has gathered pace, with army chief Asim Munir visiting Tehran and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaging regional leaders across the Middle East. Egypt has also expressed optimism that a final agreement could be reached soon.
Negotiations are expected to resume in Islamabad later this week, following earlier sessions that included U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
However, a major sticking point remains Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. While Trump claimed Tehran had agreed to hand over about 440 kilograms enriched to 60 percent, Iranian officials firmly denied the assertion. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the uranium would neither be transferred nor discussed as part of the negotiations.
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