Iran’s military announced the Strait of Hormuz closure on Saturday, hours after briefly reopening it, citing the ongoing US naval blockade of its ports as the reason. The vital waterway, handling about 20% of global oil and LNG, saw over a dozen commercial ships transit earlier before some turned back amid the flip-flop.
Volatile Reopening Fails
Tehran declared the strait open Friday following a Lebanon ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, sparking market relief and oil price drops. President Trump had expressed optimism for an imminent US-Israeli-Iran peace deal but insisted the blockade persists until agreement, prompting Iran’s reversal to “strict armed forces control.”
Ship Chaos and Escalation
Tracking data showed vessels—some broadcasting Indian or Chinese flags for neutrality—rushing through while hugging Iranian waters, but at least two UAE-loaded tankers aborted eastward journeys. With four days left in the two-week US-Israeli-Iran ceasefire (from Feb 28), uncertainty reigns as ships divert.
Broader Conflict Context
The back-and-forth undermines Trump’s deal hopes, with Iranian state media blaming US “piracy.” Reports note Revolutionary Guard gunboats firing on a tanker and a projectile hitting a container ship, heightening risks in the narrow chokepoint.