KABUL: Iran’s military says the Strait of Hormuz has returned to strict control and monitoring by its armed forces less than a day after it was reopened to limited commercial traffic.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Saturday that Iran had initially allowed controlled and limited passage of vessels through the strategic waterway “in good faith” and based on prior understandings.
However, he said continued naval pressure and actions by the United States led to a change in conditions, prompting Tehran to reimpose strict oversight. He added that tight control would remain in place until full freedom of navigation to and from Iran is restored.
Meanwhile, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said failure to heed Iran’s warnings resulted in the renewed restrictions on the strait.
The development comes a day after Dr. Sayed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that had been widely welcomed internationally, including by Donald Trump, President of the United States.