The move followed the collapse of weekend talks in Islamabad, which had raised hopes of easing the confrontation. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has effectively restricted the Strait of Hormuz to its own vessels, saying foreign ships could pass only under Iranian supervision and only after paying fees. That has already created one of the sharpest disruptions in recent memory in a maritime corridor that handles a major share of the world’s oil and gas trade.
Iran responded with fresh threats. Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik, spokesperson for Iran’s Defence Ministry, warned that any attempt by foreign forces to take control of the Strait of Hormuz would only deepen the crisis and make global energy insecurity even worse. Iranian military officials also said the US move amounted to a violation of maritime rights, while warning that if Iranian ports came under threat, no port in the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman would remain safe.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added to the pressure, saying any warship approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as violating the ceasefire agreement. The rhetoric has sharpened fears that the waterway could become the focal point of a much wider confrontation, with implications far beyond the Gulf.