Iran has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain restricted until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, escalating tensions amid ongoing negotiations to end the regional war.
In a televised address, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and a senior negotiator, said talks with Washington had seen “progress” but major disagreements remain.
“We are still far from the final discussion,” Ghalibaf said, adding that “fundamental points” are yet to be resolved.
The dispute comes as a temporary ceasefire agreement nears expiration on Wednesday unless extended. Donald Trump said “very good conversations” were ongoing with Tehran but warned Iran against “blackmailing” the United States over maritime access in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran briefly reopened the waterway last week following a short-lived ceasefire involving regional actors, triggering a drop in global oil prices. However, officials later warned that access could again be restricted if the blockade continues.
“If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited,” Ghalibaf said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any unauthorized passage through the strait would be treated as cooperation with hostile forces and “targeted.”
Security reports indicated multiple disruptions in the waterway, including incidents involving commercial vessels and threats against shipping in the region. Some tankers reportedly retreated after initial attempts to cross the strait.
The conflict is unfolding alongside broader negotiations involving Iran’s nuclear programme. One key issue is Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at around 440 kilograms. Iran has rejected US demands to transfer the material, saying it will not be removed from its current location.
Iranian officials also dismissed claims that surrendering the stockpile was part of negotiations.
Meanwhile, diplomatic mediation efforts led by regional states, including Pakistan and Egypt, continue. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said negotiators were aiming to reach an agreement “in the coming days,” though significant gaps remain.
The wider conflict began in late February following surprise US-Israeli strikes on Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic talks. The war has since expanded across the region, involving missile exchanges and attacks involving allied groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On the security front, a French peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded in southern Lebanon in an attack that France attributed to Hezbollah, an allegation the group denied. United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon condemned the incident, calling for restraint amid rising regional instability.
As tensions persist, both Tehran and Washington have signaled continued negotiations, but officials on both sides acknowledge that a final agreement remains distant.