Donald Trump said the American military has begun a blockade of Iranian ports to force Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal.
Iran responded with threats on all ports within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, aiming at US-allied countries.
Yesterday evening, the President said the blockade began yesterday at 10 am Washington, D.C. time.
But Iran and the US seem like at odds as as to if the Strait of Hormuz is definitely open again under the ceasefire agreement.
Minutes before the scheduled start of the blockade, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency issued a notice to mariners that said the restrictions included ‘the whole thing of the Iranian coastline, including ports and energy infrastructure’.
It added that transit through the strait ‘to or from non-Iranian destinations shouldn’t be reported to be impeded by these measures’, but added that ships ‘may encounter military presence’ within the strait.
Join for all of the newest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which 20% of traded oil passes in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the price of petrol, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East.
Some analysts are doubtful that the US can restore normal shipping through force alone, and it shouldn’t be clear how a blockade would work or what the hazards is likely to be to US forces.
The US military’s Central Command announced that the blockade could be enforced ‘against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas’.
Is the Strait of Hormuz open?
It depends upon who you ask.
Dr Bamo Nouri, senior lecturer in International Relations on the University of West London, told Metro that what’s happening with the Strait is contradictory, but each things are true without delay.
‘It’s technically ‘open’ but not freely operating. The US presents it as open to reassure markets, while Iran is effectively controlling access – allowing passage, but under conditions, monitoring, and implicit threats against non-compliant vessels,’ he explained.
‘Which means shipping can move, but with heightened risk, reduced traffic, and rising costs. In practice, Iran doesn’t need to completely close the strait to exert leverage.
‘By making it uncertain, conditional, and potentially expensive, it may still disrupt global energy flows and signal its strategic power, which is why markets remain tense despite the ceasefire.’
How does Iran control the Strait of Hormuz?
A number of aspects go into how Iran controls the vital waterway, where tankers must sail through Hormuz, a 60-mile-wide a part of the Persian Gulf, which has been at the center of regional tensions for many years.
At its narrowest point, the Strait is just 24 miles across, making it easy for Iran to focus on vessels passing by without firing from a ship. As a substitute, they’ll fire anti-ship missiles from their coastline.
Together with the geography allowing Iran to exert control on the waterway, additionally they use unique methods of weaponry.
They’ve also laced the water with mines and use low-cost drones to attack vessels that pass without permission.
The UN allows countries to exercise control of their territorial seas as much as 13.8 miles from their coastlines.
Some portions of the Strait lie entirely in Iran and Oman’s territorial waters, meaning they’re allowed to ‘defend’ their countries if needed.
What happened to the ceasefire agreement?
As of now, US-Iran negotiations in Pakistan are still ongoing, so the ceasefire remains to be technically on, but Iran and the US appear to have differing definitions of what this implies.
When Iran, Israel and the USA agreed on a two-week ceasefire, one in every of the conditions all of them agreed on was the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for maritime traffic.
The blockade has now called all of this into query.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released the coordinates of where it indicates it has planted underwater explosives within the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran claims the map provides a secure corridor for oil tankers using the passage, where normally around 20% of the world’s oil passes day-after-day.
Trump declared the passage was officially open last week, but it surely was closed again after just two tankers made it through.
Though the ceasefire requires the free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reports have suggested Iran desired to put a toll of as much as $1 million on each ship.
Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Pope Leo is taking over Donald Trump’s God complex
MORE: Iran war ‘will knock £480 off UK household incomes by the tip of the 12 months’
MORE: Why Orban’s defeat spells trouble for Trump and MAGA