Is the Strait of Hormuz closed? Iran again threatens ships in the Persian Gulf

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday in response to Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, Iranian media reported, quoted by Reuters. The opening of the strait was a key point in the ceasefire announced last night between Iran and the US.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army said it had shelled nearly 100 targets of the pro-Iranian terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon, emphasizing that this was the most intense wave of airstrikes since Hezbollah joined the war on March 2. Targets in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon included: intelligence headquarters and offices used by Hezbollah to plan attacks, the organization's missile and naval force infrastructure, and the resources of its elite Radwan forces.

In a statement issued shortly after the ceasefire between the US and Iran was concluded on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon. This contradicts the statement of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who emphasized that it applies to everyone, including the allies of each side.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday in an interview with PBS that the truce concluded with Iran does not apply to Lebanon and Israel's attacks on Hezbollah targets.

One of the most important points of the agreement between the US and Iran was the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global trade. Before February 28, when Israel and the U.S. war on Iran began, about one-fifth of the world's volume of crude oil and liquefied natural gas was transported through the strait.

It was previously reported that the Iranian navy continued to threaten to destroy ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran's consent. Sources cited by Reuters claimed that the waterway remains closed.

“Any ship attempting to enter the sea will be targeted and destroyed,” the Iranian navy said in a statement.

As Reuters writes, citing shipping sources, several ships in the Persian Gulf received word from the Iranian Navy that the Strait of Hormuz was still closed.

Iran's Fars news agency wrote that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz were detained due to Israel's “violation of the ceasefire.”

After announcing the ceasefire between the US and Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi announced that traffic through the strait would take place “in coordination with the Iranian armed forces and taking into account technical limitations.”

It was previously reported that the first ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz today.

In turn, an anonymous representative of the Iranian authorities told Reuters that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is possible on Thursday or Friday, but to a limited extent and on Tehran's conditions.

The US and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night. Part of the provisions of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire is for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported a two-week ceasefire with Iran, but it did not cover hostilities in Lebanon. In accordance with this declaration, the Israeli armed forces carried out an intense wave of airstrikes on nearly 100 targets of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. (PAP)

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