Iran continues to close the Strait of Hormuz.. and American warnings of renewed war
Iran continued to close the Strait of Hormuz to international traffic, at a time when there are conflicting reports about the future of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, and whether the second round will resume in Islamabad, and developments on the ground have been accompanied by US warnings of the possibility of renewed war if a political breakthrough is not recorded in the coming hours.
Iran's Guard warns ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a strongly worded statement calling on ships not to move from their positions in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, stressing that any approach to the strait would be considered "co-operation with the enemy" and would be directly targeted. "U.S. statements about the strait are worthless," the statement added, stressing that the only source of news is the Iranian navy.
The IRGC said some non-military vessels passed on Friday under specific conditions, but "the enemy violated the ceasefire", prompting Tehran to reimpose restrictions.
In the same context, Iranian media quoted a senior official as saying that priority will be given to ships that pay transit fees, as part of new protocols related to security and safety.
US warns of renewed war
A U.S. source said that the war with Iran could be renewed in the next few days if there is no breakthrough in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to Israel's Channel 12.
The channel pointed out that the White House held an emergency security meeting following the crisis of the strait, during which it warned of the repercussions of its closure to maritime navigation.
Despite the escalation on the ground, the source confirmed that there is actual progress in the negotiations on the uranium enrichment file and the stockpile of enriched uranium inside Iran, which reflects a contradiction between the political track and the military scene.
Earlier on Saturday, the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces' "Khatam al-Anbiya" announced the re-closure of the strait, in response to what it described as the continuation of the US naval blockade, and following the announcement, the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority revealed that there had been 3 incidents of ships in the strait within three hours off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman.
Iranian Vice President: We Will Protect Hormuz Through Negotiations or on the Ground
During a visit to the Ports and Maritime Organization in Tehran, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stressed that the management of the Strait of Hormuz represents "a legal right of Iran," stressing that his country will continue to establish this right either through negotiations or "on the ground."
Aref said that the Iranian people did not exercise this right before, but after the "third war", Tehran took over the management of the strait, and its role will be different from what it was in the past. He added that Iran seeks to end all wars in West Asia, and will not allow any country to colonize the region.
The Iranian official warned that some Gulf states have made "miscalculations" by accompanying Iran's enemies, calling on them to review their positions in line with their national interests.
He stressed that the use of its territory against Iran's interests "will be met with a decisive response", stressing that Tehran does not trust the paths put forward by "enemies" under pressure.
Iran sets priority for transit in the Strait of Hormuz
An Iranian official said ships that respond quickly to the new strait protocols, by paying for security and safety services, will be given priority transit. Ships that do not pay the fees will be deferred.
The IRGC announced on Friday evening that the strait was being reclosed due to the continued blockade of Iranian ports by the United States, after Tehran allowed it to be temporarily opened to civilian navigation and set a safe route along its shores.