Tehran warned on Saturday that it could close the Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The threat came hours after Iran announced the reopening of the strategic waterway, following a ceasefire in Lebanon. US Central Command reported that 21 vessels had been turned around since the blockade began earlier in the week, showing images of an American guided-missile destroyer in the Arabian Sea. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on X that passage through the strait would require Iran's authorization, while foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the blockade a violation of the ceasefire. President Donald Trump, speaking to AFP, claimed a US-Iran peace deal was "very close" and that Tehran had agreed to surrender its enriched uranium, but Iran rejected the claim. Trump said the blockade would remain even if a deal was not reached, though he might extend the ceasefire beyond its Wednesday expiry. Oil prices dropped on Friday as markets reacted positively to the reopening of the strait and hopes for a broader agreement. Pakistan, which mediated talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, urged both sides to finalize a deal. Trump suggested he might travel to Pakistan to sign an agreement, following a 21-hour negotiation session led by US Vice President JD Vance.
Trump claims Iran agreed to hand over enriched uranium, yet Iran publicly states the stockpile remains—this contradiction leaves the credibility of the supposed breakthrough in question. The continued US naval blockade, even amid ceasefire talks, risks escalating tensions rather than reducing them. For global oil-dependent economies, including Nigeria, any renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz would directly threaten fuel supply and price stability. The assurances of a near deal ring hollow while key terms remain disputed and unverified.
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