Tehran on Saturday threatened to cut off access to the Strait of Hormuz again if the United States maintains its blockade of Iranian ports, raising fresh doubts over recent progress following a ceasefire in Lebanon. Follow our live blog for the latest updates.
‘Opening up the Strait of Hormuz is in everybody’s interest’, former US Navy vice admiral says
“Opening up the Strait of Hormuz is in everybody’s interest, including Iranians”, Former US Navy vice admiral Robert B. Murrett told FRANCE 24, voicing cautious optimism over US-Iran talks and pointing to renewed diplomatic efforts as a sign of possible de-escalation.
He said the maritime route could be secured by a US-backed coalition, with both Iran and the United States showing increasing willingness to reach an agreement.
Iranian parliament speaker accuses Trump of making false claims
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf on Saturday accused US President Donald Trump of making multiple false claims, dismissing them as ineffective in both conflict and negotiations.
He warned that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz again if the US blockade continues, adding that any passage would require Iranian approval and be dictated by on-the-ground realities, not rhetoric.
Iran threatens to again close Hormuz, if US blockade continues
Tehran threatened on Saturday to shut the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, hours after Iran announced it had reopened the strategic waterway in the wake of a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The potential for the resumption of transit had lifted stock markets on Friday and prompted optimism from Washington, with President Donald Trump telling AFP a broader US-Iran peace deal was “very close” and saying Tehran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium – a key sticking point in negotiations.
“We’re going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators,” Trump said at an event in Arizona.
Iran, however, pushed back on the claim, saying its stockpile of enriched uranium was not going anywhere.
It also warned that if US warships intercepted vessels coming from Iranian ports, the Strait of Hormuz – a key global trade artery through which about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes – could be closed again.
Trump says US blockade of Iranian ports will ‘remain’ if no deal reached
President Donald Trump said late Friday he planned to maintain a US blockade of Iranian ports if a peace deal with Tehran is not reached, adding that he may not extend the ceasefire after its expiration.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday in the wake of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, though Tehran threatened to close the vital waterway once again if the US blockade continues.
A ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is due to expire on Wednesday.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, when asked if the ceasefire will be extended.
Asked about a potential deal, Trump said, “I think it’s going to happen.”
