Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over US blockade after brief reopening
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused Washington of 'acts of piracy and maritime theft' carried out under the cover of the blockade.
Iran has reversed its decision to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as the US maintains a blockade on the Islamic republic's ports.
Iran's military announced the decision on Saturday (18 April) in a statement carried by Iranian media, reports Deutsche Welle.
The strait, through which a fifth of crude oil and petroleum products pass, was reopened on Friday after remaining mostly closed amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, effectively creating one of the worst energy crises in modern history.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that it had reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as a continuing US blockade of Iranian ports, reports Al Jazeera.
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The IRGC's joint military command accused Washington of "acts of piracy and maritime theft" carried out under the cover of the blockade, saying the strategic waterway was now under "strict management and control" by Iranian armed forces.
"For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control by the armed forces," the command said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.
"Until the United States restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition."
Earlier in the day, Tehran had threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States continued its blockade of Iranian ports, hours after the key waterway had been reopened in the wake of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon.
The resumption of transit had lifted stock markets on Friday and prompted optimism from Washington, with US President Donald Trump telling AFP a peace deal was "very close" and saying Iran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium -- a key sticking point in negotiations.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated that military attacks could resume if a ceasefire with Iran expired next week without a deal.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place and warned that bombing could restart if negotiations fail.
"I don't know. Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," Trump said. "Unfortunately, we may have to start dropping bombs again."
At the same time, he expressed hope for a diplomatic outcome, saying he believes an agreement is still possible.
The conflict has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab countries. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Trump also rejected any possibility of Iran imposing tolls or restrictions on ships using the Strait of Hormuz.
"No way," he said, making it clear that such measures would not be accepted.
