Iran re-closes Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions
Iran has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping less than 24 hours after briefly reopening it in response to a ceasefire declaration in Lebanon.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the strait would remain closed until the United States ends its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The IRGC controls the management of the strait and stated that the waterway has reverted to "strict management and control of the armed forces." This move came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had declared the strait open for commercial vessels.
The closure has caused distress among sailors in the Persian Gulf, with reports of heightened security and attacks by IRGC gunboats on commercial vessels near the strait.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre confirmed incidents involving Iranian gunboats firing upon tankers, including Indian-flagged ships.
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles described Iran's re-closure as "disappointing" and emphasized that freedom of navigation through the strait is "paramount to Australia's national interests." While he expressed understanding of the United States' retaliatory naval blockade of Iranian ports, Marles stopped short of offering outright support for the US actions.
He called for "every diplomatic angle" to be used to secure a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East.
Marles also noted that Australia is considering how it can contribute to securing the key shipping route in the future.
The United States maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastline, which Tehran views as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Since the blockade began on April 13, the US has turned away 23 ships.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran cannot "blackmail" the US with threats regarding the strait and affirmed that the blockade will continue until a peace deal is reached.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council condemned the US blockade and announced it would halt the reopening of the strait while the blockade persists.
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