Iran Says Strait of Hormusk Remains Closed Until U.S. Meets Interim Deal Conditions

Iran's parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf told state media that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills the terms of an interim agreement. The conditions he listed include ending the naval blockade, removing sanctions and unlocking Iran's frozen assets.

President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox News, warned that the United States would "bomb the s**t out of" Oman if the Gulf nation interfered with his efforts to secure a peace deal with Tehran. He added that the U.S. maintains a back-channel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and urged Iran to surrender.

The dispute follows the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the two countries, after which a vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile while leaving the strait. Iran has indicated it may shift from a defensive to a fully offensive posture amid the stalemate.

Shipping data show that vessel traffic through the strait has risen modestly, with six commodity ships recorded in the latest day, still well below the ten-day average of eleven. Analysts note that higher oil prices and concerns about the conflict are weighing on Asian equity markets.