Newsman: Iran said Saturday it had reinstated control of the Strait of Hormuz, and was reversing course on its decision to reopen the critical waterway until the United States completely lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. The announcement came the morning after President Donald Trump had said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will remain and attacks could resume if no agreement is reached before the current ceasefire with Iran expires next week.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization, which monitors maritime security activity around the Strait of Hormuz, said it had received a report that a tanker near the strait was attacked by two Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gun boats.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which happened hours after Iran said the strait was now under “strict control” until the U.S. agreed to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The decision reverses earlier announcements from Iranian officials and President Trump on Friday that the strait had reopened – announcements that had sent oil prices tumbling and stock markets rebounding.
The latest announcement from Iran that it had again closed the strait reignited concerns about how shipments would get through the narrow waterway, through which about 20% of the world’s crude oil and natural gas typically passes.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Saturday, Trump said Iran had tried to get “cute” in taking back control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. Nobody ever took them on. We took them on,” Trump said.
Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One the previous evening about what he will do if there’s no deal before the ceasefire expires, Trump said: “I don’t know. Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain. But maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.”
Trump was on his way back to Washington, after appearing at Turning Point USA’s “Build the Red Wall” rally in Phoenix, AZ. Despite hinting at the possibility of resuming attacks on Iran, Trump also told reporters “I think it’s going to happen,” referring to a deal.
Also on Friday, hours after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial ships, the Treasury Department said it would extend its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments to ease shortages caused by the Iran war. As recently as Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had ruled out such a move.
