The fragile calm that briefly lifted over the Middle East has shattered. Iran has reimposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, reversing its decision to reopen the critical waterway just 24 hours earlier, and sending shockwaves through global energy markets ahead of Monday's open.
Tehran justified the move as retaliation for the continued US blockade of its ports © Mena Today
The fragile calm that briefly lifted over the Middle East has shattered. Iran has reimposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, reversing its decision to reopen the critical waterway just 24 hours earlier, and sending shockwaves through global energy markets ahead of Monday's open.
Tehran justified the move as retaliation for the continued US blockade of its ports, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards warning that any vessel attempting to transit the strait would be "considered as cooperating with the enemy and targeted."
At least three commercial ships came under fire shortly after the announcement. President Donald Trump hit back, calling Iran's maneuver "blackmail" and accusing Tehran of "playing games."
The Hormuz escalation comes just three days before the Iran-US ceasefire expires, and at a moment when peace talks appear deadlocked. Iran's powerful Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated Saturday that the two sides remain "far from closing the debate", citing deep mistrust and unresolved fundamental issues. Trump, meanwhile, claimed Iran had agreed to hand over enriched uranium, a claim Tehran flatly denied.
Egypt and Pakistan are working to bring both parties back to the negotiating table following the failed April 12 Islamabad round.
Israel's Iron Dome has been nearly 99% effective against missiles from Hamas and Hezbollah militants and has knocked out most missiles from Iran, the chairman of state-owned Iron Dome maker Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd said on Monday.
President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil prices surging on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed.
President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran's response to a U.S. proposal for peace talks to end the war, as two ships were allowed to pass through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
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