Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade

Global markets cheered the news. Oil prices dropped fast. Trump kept pushing for a United States Navy blockade of Iranian ports until a deal. Tehran warned it would close the Hormuz strait again.

Late Saturday morning, Iranian state TV quoted the military command. It said Strait of Hormuz control returned to normal. Armed forces now manage it tightly. They blamed the US blockade.

Tracking sites showed ships racing through the narrow path. They stayed near Iranian waters as ordered. Some flew Indian or Chinese flags to claim neutrality.

Those sites noted that Friday ships turned back. They headed for the strait then retreated in doubt.

We’re going to get it

Four days left until the two-week ceasefire ends. That covers the US-Israeli war on Iran. It started on February 28 from Washington and its ally.

Trump seemed sure a deal was near. He called Friday great and brilliant. He posted on social media about talks with Pakistan’s help.

Pakistan’s top general, Field Marshal Asim Munir, wrapped up a three-day trip to Iran on Saturday. He met Iran’s key leaders to lock in peace.

While Munir stayed in Iran, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. He pressed for peace.

Islamabad leads mediation in the fight. It hosted long direct talks last weekend. US Vice President JD Vance joined.

Talks round two come this week in Pakistan’s capital. Envoys aim to stop the war by February 28.

US and Israel hit Iran with shock attacks. They killed the top leader, Ali Khamenei, and many others. This came during US-Iran diplomacy talks.

Ceasefire holds firm. Iran’s air agency reopened its skies. Global flights can pass east through Iran.

Two big issues linger in talks. Iran’s near-weapons uranium stock. And the Strait of Hormuz’s future.

Trump told AFP by phone on Friday. We’re very close to a deal. No sticking points with Tehran.

Later in Arizona, he said Iran agreed to give 440 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium. That’s near bomb level.

We’re going to get it by teaming with Iran. We’ll use lots of excavators, he added.

But Iran’s foreign ministry spoke hours earlier. Its uranium pile stays put. US bombs in last June’s war buried it deep under ruins.

No transfer to the United States ever came up in talks, spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on state TV.

Regular Iranians lack access to the world’s internet. Monitors say the war blackout hit day 50, Saturday.