Iran has once again announced the closure of the strategic waterway Strait of Hormuz, further intensifying its ongoing tensions with the United States; despite some recent progress in talks, a final peace agreement remains “a long way off,” according to Iran’s influential parliament speaker; a high-level meeting held in Pakistan failed to reach any breakthrough, although mediators continue their efforts; Tehran has made it clear that the vital maritime trade route will remain closed until Washington lifts sanctions imposed on Iranian ports; meanwhile, Iran’s powerful military unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has warned that any attempt to pass through the strait without permission will be considered “cooperation with the enemy” and such vessels will be treated as targets; the current two-week ceasefire is set to expire next Wednesday, raising fears of renewed escalation if it is not extended.
Iran-US tensions at peak as Hormuz Strait closed again
