Iran Shuts Down Strait of Hormuz After US Ends Blockade

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the move Friday via maritime radio channels, according to New York Post, declaring that critical conditions of the agreement remain unfulfilled.

The IRGC statement demanded Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanon, the full lifting of naval restrictions, and the removal of American military forces from the Persian Gulf region. The Iranian military warned all vessels to stay clear of the strategic waterway for their own safety, threatening to target any ship that defies the directive.

Nuclear Talks Canceled

The announcement came hours after the first round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, set to take place in Switzerland on Friday, were abruptly canceled. Washington has not publicly explained the postponement.

The memorandum of understanding was signed Wednesday between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, raising hopes for diplomatic progress on Iran’s nuclear program and regional tensions.

Confusion Over Blockade Terms

U.S. Central Command confirmed Thursday that it had formally ended its two-month blockade of Iranian ports, as New York Post reports. However, Tehran’s statement suggests disagreement over what constitutes a complete lifting of naval restrictions, though Iranian officials did not specify what further actions they are demanding.

Hardliner Resistance

Sources previously told New York Post that hardline factions within the Iranian regime had opposed attending a now-canceled signing ceremony for the memorandum until Israeli forces fully withdraw from southern Lebanon, where they have been conducting operations against Hezbollah terrorists.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz carries enormous economic implications, as roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

With information from New York Post