Iran Limits Vessel Passage in Strait of Hormuz Over Unresolved US Standoff

Iran has reimposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, limiting vessel passage after accusing the United States of failing to lift restrictions on Iranian ports.

State broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that the waterway is effectively “closed again,” with transit now subject to Iranian approval. The announcement follows a short-lived easing of tensions that had briefly allowed some shipping activity to resume.

Iranian military authorities said the move was a response to Washington’s continued enforcement of what Tehran describes as a naval blockade. In a statement, the military’s joint command indicated that earlier arrangements permitting controlled passage of select oil tankers and commercial vessels had been suspended.

Officials stated that the strait has “returned to its previous state” and will remain under strict supervision by Iranian armed forces until the United States removes restrictions affecting Iranian maritime traffic.

The waterway, a key route for global oil shipments, had already faced disruptions since the escalation of tensions earlier in the year. Although limited transit resumed briefly following a ceasefire linked to regional hostilities, shipping activity remained constrained.

The renewed measures are likely to heighten concerns in global energy markets, given the strait’s importance to international oil supply.

US President Donald Trump had previously welcomed Iran’s temporary easing of restrictions but maintained that US measures targeting vessels linked to Iranian ports would stay in place pending a broader agreement.