Oil price hostage to Iran. Blackmail in the Strait of Hormuz: “There will be another blockade”

A further blockade of Iranian ports by the US will mean the termination of the agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz, an anonymous representative of the Iranian authorities told local media on Friday, quoted by Reuters. Another official said crossing the strait must be done with the consent of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran's Fars agency quotes a “well-informed source close to the government” according to which Iran has been very clear from the beginning about unblocking navigation through Hormuz for commercial ships.

The interlocutor of an agency affiliated with the IRGC emphasized that Tehran made the restoration of Hormuz traffic conditional on the fulfillment of several conditions, the most important of which was the conclusion of a ceasefire in Lebanon. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that such an agreement had been concluded.

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The representative of the Iranian authorities quoted by Fars also recalled the remaining conditions:

• freedom of navigation applies only to merchant ships;
• navigation takes place along the route designated by Iran;
• navigation is carried out in consultation with the competent Iranian services.

Moreover, he stated that “if the naval blockade continues, it will be considered a violation of the ceasefire and the route through the Strait of Hormuz will be closed,” wrote the Fars agency.

Tasnim Agency, also affiliated with the IRGC, quoted an anonymous Iranian military official as saying that “only civilian vessels may transit designated routes with the consent of the IRGC Navy“The agency's interlocutor emphasized that “even American ships will be allowed, with the exception of navy units.”

Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi announced the opening of Hormuz to commercial ships. His declaration was confirmed by US President Donald Trump in a post on the Truth Social platform. Oil reacted with large declines.

Freedom of navigation through the strait is valid until the end of the ceasefire between Iran and the USA, i.e. on the night of April 21-22, Polish time. Trump expressed thanks for this decision; he also stipulated that the American naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in force. (PAP)

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