After briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has closed the vital waterway again, saying it will restrict ship passage as long as the U.S. maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf told Iranian state TV: “It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.”
The U.S. military said it forced 23 ships to turn back as part of its blockade. Roughly 20% of the world’s crude oil and natural gas normally passes through the narrow strait, which Iran has effectively sealed to international tankers since the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran in late February.
President Trump cast doubt on U.S. plans when the precarious ceasefire with Iran ends Wednesday, saying the U.S. might “have to start dropping bombs again,” though he also said he believes a deal could be possible.
Indian authorities summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi after reporting a shooting incident that involved two Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. India said there was “a serious incident of firing on merchant ships” during the brief reopening and urged Iran to allow safe passage for Indian ships. The U.K.’s Maritime Trade Operations Centre received a report that two Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats fired on a tanker, though it did not confirm the tanker’s flag.
More than 20,000 seafarers have been stranded on hundreds of ships in the Gulf since the war began. Iran’s National Security Council said the country is “determined to exercise supervision and control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.”
Separately, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is under strain but holding for now. A French peacekeeper, Florian Montorio, was killed in southern Lebanon in what President Emmanuel Macron said appeared to be fire from Hezbollah; the group denied responsibility. Two Israeli soldiers also died over the weekend: Sgt. Maj. Barak Kalfon was killed when his engineering vehicle hit a bomb, and Staff Sgt. Lidor Porat was killed in fighting; several other soldiers were injured. Polls indicate most Israelis oppose the ceasefire, amid beliefs their military was making progress against Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces said the day before the ceasefire took effect it had “eliminated” more than 150 Hezbollah operatives and struck roughly 300 military infrastructure sites; since the start of Operation “Roaring Lion,” the IDF says over 1,800 Hezbollah operatives have been eliminated.
There are signs Islamabad may host another round of U.S.-Iran peace talks, though neither side has confirmed dates. The White House said talks would very likely be held in Pakistan again after earlier negotiations failed. Islamabad residents noted clues—temporary suspension of public transport announced on social media and restricted movement in and out of the Red Zone, the high-security area with government buildings and embassies. Pakistan has not confirmed dates but says it continues to mediate; Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir traveled to Iran last week as part of those efforts.
Reporting contributions by Eleanor Beardsley in Jerusalem, Durrie Bouscaren in Van, Turkey, Betsy Joles in Islamabad, Diaa Hadid in Colombo, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.