Iran refuses to reopen Hormuz

IRAN’S vow not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz - so long as a US naval blockade remained in place — was held into yesterday despite a ceasefire extension, as the Gulf nation announced the seizure of two ships trying to cross the strategic waterway.

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US Central Command (Centcom) said this week that it had also “directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port” as part of its own “blockade against Iran’.

As the clock ticked for a return to the war that has engulfed the region, US President Donald Trump had said Tuesday he would maintain the truce to allow more time for Pakistani-brokered peace talks.

Iran said it welcomed the efforts by Pakistan but made no other comment on Trump’s announcement.

“A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad.

“Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire”

Oil prices jumped four percent before easing yesterday after Iran vowed not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so long as a US blockade remained in place.