TEHRAN — Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, restricting ship passage as tensions escalate with the United States over a naval blockade and the ongoing conflict in the region, Iranian officials and U.S. authorities said Sunday.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said on state television that Iran would not allow other countries to use the waterway while its own exports remain blocked, following U.S. actions targeting Iranian ports.
The U.S. military said it turned back 23 vessels attempting to transit the strait as part of its enforcement operations. The waterway typically carries about 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments.
In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating a ceasefire agreement by firing in the strait and said the U.S. blockade would continue. He added that U.S. officials would travel to Islamabad for potential negotiations.
Trump said the United States had offered Iran a deal and warned of further military action if no agreement is reached.
Iran’s National Security Council said it would maintain control over traffic in the strait until the conflict ends. The closure follows a brief reopening and comes as a ceasefire deadline approaches.
India’s foreign ministry said it summoned Iran’s ambassador after a reported shooting involving two Indian-flagged vessels during the temporary reopening. The United Kingdom’s maritime agency also reported that Iranian vessels fired on a tanker.
The renewed closure has left thousands of seafarers stranded aboard ships in the Gulf since the conflict began in late February.
Separately, violence continued in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the death of a French peacekeeper, while Israeli authorities reported two soldiers killed in separate incidents.
Diplomatic efforts continued as Pakistan signaled preparations for possible talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Islamabad, though neither side has confirmed a schedule.
