April 19, Kathmandu – The Strait of Hormuz, a highly sensitive shipping lane crucial for fuel transportation, has once again become the focal point of escalating tensions. Iran announced it will close the strait unless the United States lifts its sanctions, warning that any vessel attempting to pass through will be targeted. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warned that any ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be considered collaborating with the enemy. Iran made it clear that vessels traveling from the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman towards Hormuz would be treated as hostile.
News had emerged of an agreement in talks mediated by Pakistan between representatives of the U.S. and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, U.S. President Donald Trump subsequently stated that the blockade against Iran would remain in place. Trump also claimed that Iran had agreed to send its uranium to the United States, a claim Iran denied, labeling it false and demanding the removal of sanctions. Despite temporary reports that Iran would reopen the waterway to all commercial vessels, tension quickly resurfaced within 24 hours.
Following the announcement of a possible agreement, crude oil prices declined in international markets. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf stated in a television interview that the Strait of Hormuz remains “under the control of the Islamic Republic.” He criticized the U.S. naval blockade as an “immature and ignorant decision.” Conversely, President Trump warned Iran against using the closure of the waterway for “blackmail.” He made clear that the ceasefire would end unless an agreement was reached by a specified deadline and that U.S. sanctions would remain fully in place. Trump also threatened to bomb Iran again if no substantial deal is reached by next Wednesday.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), Iran fired upon two Indian commercial vessels on Saturday. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that two Indian-flagged vessels were involved in “incidents of fire.” Several other ships in the region reportedly received radio warnings from the IRGC Navy, instructing them not to enter the strait. Analysts have described the current situation as a “dual blockade”: on one side, the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and on the other, Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera correspondents noted that Iran appears to be using the strait strategically to exert pressure and send a message. As talks become increasingly uncertain, Iran’s closure of the waterway is seen as an attempt to demonstrate its influence. Given the Strait of Hormuz’s status as a critical global oil supply route, there is widespread concern that rising tensions could have a direct impact on international markets, particularly energy supplies.
