Photo: AP
Tehran: Tehran indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports, while signalling that a final peace agreement was still distant.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, stated in a televised address that although some progress had been made in talks with the United States, significant gaps persisted and key issues remained unresolved, adding that negotiations were still far from reaching a conclusion.
A temporary ceasefire is due to expire midweek unless renewed, AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump reportedly said discussions with Iran were going well but cautioned Tehran against attempting to "blackmail" the US.
Iran had briefly reopened the strait following a ceasefire linked to the conflict involving its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, a move that initially calmed global markets and lowered oil prices. However, with the US maintaining its blockade, Tehran signalled it would once again restrict passage through the route.
Ghalibaf suggested that shipping traffic through the strait would be limited if the US blockade continued.
Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message, indicated that Iran’s navy was prepared to confront the United States if necessary.
Trump, speaking at the White House, accused Iran of inconsistent behaviour over the strait and warned against attempts to use it as leverage.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also warned that vessels passing through the waterway without approval could be treated as hostile and targeted.
Shipping activity briefly resumed during the short reopening, but reports indicated that traffic reduced significantly later in the day amid renewed tensions.
A UK maritime security agency reported multiple incidents, including gunfire directed at a tanker and damage to another vessel from an unidentified projectile.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also reportedly raised concerns, summoning Iran’s ambassador over a shooting incident involving Indian-flagged ships in the strait.