Iran threatens to close strait of Hormuz again as US Naval blockade deepens tensions

Iran on Saturday warned it could once again shut the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports, heightening tensions just hours after Tehran announced it had reopened the key waterway following a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The renewed threat came amid fragile diplomatic efforts to secure a broader peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.

The reopening of the strait on Friday had buoyed global markets, pushing oil prices lower and lifting stock indices as traders reacted to optimism surrounding potential progress in US-Iran negotiations.

US President Donald Trump told AFP that a comprehensive peace deal with Iran was “very close,” claiming Tehran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium—long a central sticking point in nuclear negotiations.

“We’re going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators,” Trump said during an event in Arizona, suggesting that physical verification of nuclear facilities was imminent.

Tehran swiftly rejected the claim, insisting its enriched uranium reserves would not be surrendered.

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Iranian officials also cautioned that continued US naval actions targeting vessels departing from Iranian ports could trigger a fresh closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes.

“With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open,” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that any passage through the waterway would require authorization from Iran.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the US naval blockade as “a violation of the ceasefire” agreed upon for a fortnight to facilitate talks between the two sides.

“What they call a naval blockade will definitely be met with an appropriate response from Iran,” Baqaei warned.

The US military confirmed that it has intercepted maritime traffic since the blockade began earlier this week.

The US Central Command said 21 ships had been directed to turn around, posting images of an American guided-missile destroyer patrolling the Arabian Sea.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump characterized the diplomatic developments as “GREAT AND BRILLIANT” in a series of social media posts, praising Pakistan and Gulf allies for facilitating mediation efforts.

Pakistan played a pivotal role in arranging rare face-to-face talks between US and Iranian envoys in Islamabad last week.

Although US Vice President JD Vance departed after 21 hours of discussions without securing a permanent deal, both sides signaled cautious optimism.

In his interview, Trump said there were “no sticking points at all” remaining with Tehran and even floated the possibility of traveling to Pakistan to sign a finalized agreement.

However, he also warned that the US naval blockade would remain in place if negotiations falter.

“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, though he left open the possibility of prolonging the current ceasefire beyond its Wednesday expiration.

The easing of tensions followed the start of a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, part of broader US efforts to de-escalate regional conflict.

Tehran had insisted that halting hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah was essential to any wider agreement.

In Lebanon, displaced residents began returning to bomb-damaged neighborhoods in south Beirut and towns across the country’s southern region.

“Our feelings are indescribable, pride and victory,” said 37-year-old Amani Atrash, expressing hope the ceasefire would hold.

The Lebanese conflict escalated on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, days after a broader Middle East war erupted and in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Trump said Israel had been “prohibited” by Washington from conducting additional strikes and pledged that the United States would work with Lebanon to address “the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner.”

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that operations against Hezbollah were far from over.

“We have not yet finished the job,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing that dismantling Hezbollah remains a key objective.

Hezbollah, for its part, warned it remains prepared to respond to any Israeli violations of the ceasefire.