Iran’s military reimposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, demanding that the U.S. must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before the vital waterway is opened again, a spokesperson for the joint military command said.
The move came as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker attempting to transit the strait.
“Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control of the armed forces,” a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said in comments carried by state-controlled Tasnim news.
The strait will remain restricted “until America allows full freedom of navigation for vessels traveling from Iran,” the spokesperson said.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that two IRGC gunboats had opened fire on a tanker 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman without issuing a radio challenge. The vessel’s captain reported the incident to UKMTO; no injuries were reported and the tanker was said to be safe.
The renewed closure of the strait came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the American naval blockade of Iranian ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with Washington, including on its nuclear program.