Iran has reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz and warned foreign vessels they must comply with its regulations or face targeting, even as negotiations with the United States over a potential deal remain deadlocked.
The announcement came Saturday from Iran’s armed forces headquarters after the White House signaled President Donald Trump was nearing a decision on an agreement with Tehran. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that any final accord had been reached.
Iran’s operational military command stated that all commercial vessels and tankers must travel designated routes and obtain permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. “Any violation of these regulations will seriously jeopardise the security of their traffic,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement reported by Iranian media.
Diplomatic Stalemate Continues
Trump met with advisers Friday in the White House Situation Room to discuss the potential deal, but no decision emerged from the meeting. US sources told AFP news agency the agreement was awaiting Trump’s approval.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Friday that while both sides continue exchanging messages, “no final agreement has been reached” with Washington. Trump has stated his priorities include Iran committing to never develop nuclear weapons and reopening the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
A White House official told AFP: “President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”
Military Posturing Intensifies
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Saturday while attending a defense summit in Singapore that Washington was “more than capable” of restarting military conflict if negotiations fail to produce satisfactory terms.
The Pentagon’s Central Command posted on social media that US forces “remain present and vigilant across the region.” Tensions have escalated this week following US strikes on Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, met with retaliatory Iranian fire.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that air defenses shot down a US drone Saturday, citing a military statement. The exchange underscored the fragility of the ceasefire amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Competing Claims on Deal Terms
Trump posted Friday on social media that Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz and end its closure with “no tolls,” while the US would lift its blockade. Both nations would coordinate removing and destroying Iran’s enriched uranium, he said, adding that “no money will be exchanged, until further notice.”
Iran’s Fars news agency cited sources claiming Tehran was demanding “the immediate release of $12bn” in frozen assets before proceeding to the next negotiation phase. The sources also stated that the agreement contains no clause guaranteeing toll-free passage through Hormuz.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said Trump was “betraying diplomacy for the third time” by maintaining the naval blockade and making what he characterized as “excessive demands” in talks.
Iran’s ISNA news agency cited legislator Alireza Salimi as saying a plan “to implement Iran’s management and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be approved by parliament.” Tasnim news agency reported the US blockade remains active and Iranian ships are receiving warnings from CENTCOM not to cross the blockade line.
This story has been updated. CNN’s International Desk contributed to this report.
