Iran reimposed Strait of Hormuz closure hours after brief reopening

Iran’s military has reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, closing the critical waterway to shipping just hours after briefly allowing transit, according to Iranian state media. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Saturday that control of the strait had returned “to its previous state,” placing the passage back under what it described as strict management and control of the armed forces.

The reversal came swiftly after Iran had appeared to reopen the strait on Friday — a move that had sent oil prices falling nine percent to settle at $90.38 per barrel. That relief was short-lived. Once Iran reimposed the closure Saturday, prices spiked again, remaining well above the $70 per barrel level that prevailed before the current crisis began.

The IRGC’s statement made clear that the closure would remain in effect as long as Washington maintained its blockade of Iranian ports. The corps accused the United States of “piracy,” characterizing the American naval blockade as maritime robbery. Iran had previously warned it would shut the strait if the U.S. continued its port blockade — and on Saturday, it followed through on that threat after concluding that the brief reopening had produced no change in American policy.

Iran’s joint military command confirmed the decision in a separate statement, saying that the strait would remain under armed forces control and that transit restrictions would continue until the U.S. lifted its blockade. Some shipping vessels were observed transiting the waterway during the brief window when the strait appeared open, though the full extent of marine traffic that made it through during that period remains unclear.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most consequential maritime chokepoints on the planet. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow passage between Iran and Oman, making it the primary export artery for crude produced by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and Iran itself. According to the International Energy Agency, an average of 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products moved through the strait in 2025. There is no readily available alternative route that can absorb that volume of traffic if the strait is blocked for an extended period.

The situation remains fluid. With the U.S. maintaining its blockade and Iran holding firm on strait restrictions, there is currently no resolution in sight. The international community, including major oil-importing nations in Europe and Asia, faces growing uncertainty over energy supply chains as long as the waterway remains restricted.