Iran’s military on Saturday announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, hours after briefly reopening the vital global shipping route and allowing more than a dozen commercial vessels to pass through.
The reversal has heightened uncertainty around efforts to end the conflict involving Donald Trump, who had expressed optimism a day earlier that a peace deal to resolve the US-Israeli war with Iran was “very close.”
Tehran had initially reopened the strait on Friday following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon aimed at halting hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The move briefly reassured global markets, causing oil prices to fall.
However, Iran warned it could shut the route again if the United States maintained its naval blockade of Iranian ports. By Saturday morning, Iranian state television, citing military central command, confirmed that control of the strait had “returned to its previous status” under strict armed forces management, blaming continued US actions.
Maritime tracking data showed several vessels rushing through the narrow channel, some identifying as Indian or Chinese to signal neutrality. Others had earlier reversed course amid the uncertainty.
With just days remaining in a fragile two-week ceasefire, diplomatic efforts continue. Pakistan has taken a leading mediation role, with its army chief Asim Munir engaging Iranian leadership during a recent visit. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also toured regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, to advance negotiations.
Talks hosted in Islamabad last week included US Vice President JD Vance, with another round expected soon as envoys push to end the war that began on February 28.
Despite ongoing diplomacy, key issues remain unresolved, including Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump reiterated on Friday that a deal was imminent, claiming there were “no sticking points” and suggesting Iran might hand over its enriched uranium reserves. However, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected the assertion, insisting its nuclear materials would not be transferred under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, signs of stability emerged elsewhere, with Iran reopening parts of its airspace for international flights. However, domestic conditions remain strained, with internet access across the country still heavily restricted nearly two months into the conflict.
The fluctuating status of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass—continues to underscore the high stakes of the crisis and its potential impact on global energy markets.
