Iran says it has reimposed strict control of Strait of Hormuz, adds to confusion of waterway's passage

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" due to current U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, The Guardian and Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the broadcaster IRIB, on Saturday, Apr. 18, the Iranian military’s operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, described the ongoing U.S. blockade as “piracy”.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military command said the U.S. has “continued acts of piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a so-called blockade”.

The statement said: “For this reason, control of the strait of Hormuz has reverted to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces."

“Until the U.S. restores the complete freedom of navigation for vessels from an Iranian origin to a destination, and from a destination back to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and in its previous state,” the statement added.

This latest development has added to the confusion over the status of the waterway.

Other international media have reported that vessels stuck in the waters in the region, some for weeks, were looking for a slim opening of the strait to make their voyage.

But those plans could now be in jeopardy.

Iran's announcement of the closing of the strait is another move in this tit-for-tat exchange with the United States.

On Friday, Apr. 17, Iran and U.S. president Donald Trump announced the strait had reopened to shipping, but Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force”.

He said the blockade will be in place until Tehran reaches a deal with Washington, including over its nuclear programme.

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