The Iranian military has ceased vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with access only to be restored upon a directive from the nation’s top leader, Brigadier General Heydari said. The statement, which was reported by the ISNA news agency, marks a shift toward a harder line on the critical shipping chokepoint after previous diplomatic calls for the waterway to be reopened.
The announcement follows an Al Jazeera interview with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who noted that Washington has yet to formally respond to Iran’s demand that the U.S. meet 7 conditions before negotiations and shipping resume. While the speaker emphasized that distrust of Washington remains an obstacle, he said Tehran has reached a separate agreement with Oman regarding traffic separation systems and shipping lanes in the strait.
