HORMUZ ON, HORMUZ OFF: IRAN SLAMS SHUT VITAL STRAIT AS SHIPS COME UNDER FIRE
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–IRAN vows to hold Strait of Hormuz “until the end of the war” after brief reopening, while Trump rejects “blackmail” amid fresh attacks off Oman.
Key Issues:
– Iran Claims Control Through War: _”Iran’s security council says it is ‘determined’ to control the Strait of Hormuz until the end of the war, and calls the continuing US blockade on Iranian ports a ‘breach of the ceasefire.'”_
– Closure Reverses Friday Reopening: _”The key shipping channel was reopened by Iran on Friday but has now been closed again.”_
– Trump: Talks Yes, Surrender No: _”Donald Trump says ‘very good conversations’ are under way with Iran but the US won’t be ‘blackmailed’ over the strait.”_
– Tanker, Container Ship Attacked: _”A tanker and a container ship have both reported attacks off the coast of Oman, the UK Maritime Trade Operations says.”_
– Deal Hopes Clouded by Chaos: _”It’s hard to keep up with what’s really happening in the Strait of Hormuz, writes our correspondent, and this casts doubt on Trump’s claim of an imminent deal.”_
– French Peacekeeper Killed in Lebanon: _”Elsewhere, President Emmanuel Macron says a French soldier has been killed in Lebanon while taking part in a peacekeeping mission. In a statement, Unifil says one of its patrols ‘came under small arms fire from non-state-actors’ – Iran-backed group Hezbollah denies involvement”_
■ Trump’s comments on Strait of Hormuz carry no validity, Iran’s navy says
Iran’s navy says that the continuing US blockade on Iranian ports is a “breach of ceasefire conditions”.
As a reminder, earlier this month Iran and the US agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which they agreed shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.
The vital shipping lane has today been closed again by Iran and Iran’s navy says it will remain shut until the US blockade of Iranian vessels and ports is lifted.
In its latest statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says statements made by Trump on the Strait of Hormuz “carry no validity”.
It is not clear if the statement is referring to specific comments made by the US president.
Earlier, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran’s leaders want to close the strait, but the US won’t let them “blackmail us.”
Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz again: Latest developments in Middle East war
■ Iranian navy: Strait closed until US blockade lifts, approaching ships will be targeted
We can bring you an update from Iran’s navy. It says that from this evening the Strait of Hormuz is closed until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted.
In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warns that “no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman”.
It says a number of vessels had passed through the strait under its management since last night, but that the waterway would shut again until the US stops its blockade of Iranian ports.
“Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered co-operation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted,” it adds.
SOURCE ==BBC==EXCEPT THE HEADLINE AND INTRO PLUS A FEW PARAGRAPHS
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