Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again, Fires on Oil Tankers

Iran announced on Saturday that it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, escalating tensions with the United States amid an ongoing blockade.

The move follows Iranian threats to restrict access to the vital oil route if U.S. actions continued. Iranian officials accused Washington of “maritime piracy,” signaling a further deterioration in relations.

According to U.S. Central Command, at least 23 vessels have already turned around after receiving U.S. instructions since the blockade began earlier in the week.

Adding to the strain, reports from U.S. and British monitoring groups indicate that Iranian forces have fired on multiple commercial ships in the strait. At least one vessel sustained damage, though no injuries have been reported.

The escalation threatens to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts, as negotiators from both sides were expected to meet for another round of talks. Just hours earlier, President Donald Trump said he anticipated a possible agreement with Iran within days.

Despite the rising tensions, Trump stated that discussions are still ongoing, adding that Iran “can’t blackmail us” and emphasizing that a decision on whether talks will proceed could come soon.

With the Strait of Hormuz handling a significant share of global oil shipments, the renewed closure is likely to intensify pressure on energy markets and increase the risk of broader regional conflict.