Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again as Trump threatens renewed attacks

Tehran reversed reopening of key waterway after Washington refused to lift blockade on Iranian ports, prompting presidential threat.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reversing a brief reopening announced the previous day, after the United States refused to lift its blockade on Iranian ports²⁶. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strait would remain closed until Washington restores "full freedom of navigation" for Iranian vessels⁹.

At least two ships reported being fired upon while attempting to pass through the waterway on Saturday, and shipping data showed no movement through the strait by early Sunday⁶⁸. The IRGC warned that any vessel attempting passage without permission "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted"¹⁰.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran on Sunday of "a total violation" of the ceasefire agreement for firing on ships near the strait⁵⁶. He threatened to "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" unless Tehran accepted his terms, posting on social media: "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"⁶⁷

Trump said US envoys would arrive in Pakistan on Monday evening for renewed talks⁵⁶. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the two sides remained "far apart" on nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz⁸. Iran's parliamentary speaker Qalibaf described the US naval blockade as "a clumsy and ignorant decision"¹¹.

The strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil shipments, has been effectively closed since US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on 28 February¹³. Oil prices fell 11% on Friday following Iran's initial announcement of reopening, but the subsequent closure restored uncertainty³.

The current two-week ceasefire is set to expire on 22 April⁴¹⁰. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had announced on Friday that the strait would be open to commercial vessels during the US-brokered 10-day truce between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon²³.