Iran regains control of Hormuz after US breach of agreement

Iran reported, this Saturday (18), that it regained control of the Strait of Hormuz through its Armed Forces. The decision was taken after, according to local authorities, the United States broke commitments previously reached between the two countries.

International agencies reported that Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghar explained that Iran had agreed, in an act “in good faith” and following previous agreements made during negotiations, to allow the controlled passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the strait.

However, the US reportedly continued to “repeatedly violate commitments” and engage in “piracy and maritime robbery under the so-called blockade.” “Therefore, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state,” he said.

The Iranians considered the presence of US ships in the region a violation of the ceasefire agreement. US ships are positioned in the Indian Ocean at a distance from the Strait of Hormuz from where they can intercept any attacks from Iran.

According to the Tasnim Agency, the Iranian government had already informed that, if the US naval blockade of vessels trying to enter and leave Iran continued, the strait would be closed again.

Also read: China defends Iranian sovereignty and criticizes Trump’s siege in Hormuz

On Friday (17), due to the ten-day ceasefire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, the Naval Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that a “new order” would govern the strait, making reference to the ceasefire. However, the situation imposed by the US forced a review of the decision.

Through a post on his social network, US President Donald Trump said that he will only withdraw his troops from the route after negotiations with Iran are “100% completed”, but that the strait would be “completely open and ready for business and free traffic”.

With agencies