Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz 'closed' after accusing the United States of violating ceasefire agreements. Ships must now seek permission to use the vital waterway, and Tehran has raised the prospect of future charges for passage.
Accusations of Ceasefire Breach
Iran accused the US of a breach in the ceasefire agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon – the halting of which was a requirement for peace in the region. Last week, it emerged that Israel is holding its own separate negotiations with the US because it wants to keep the IDF in Lebanon. Israel is not part of the US-Iran deal and has vowed to continue attacking Hezbollah after the military group targeted northern Israel.
Ending Tehran’s stranglehold on the sea route, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices, had been a key demand in negotiations. However, the deal to end the nearly four-month war between the US and Iran only secures safe, toll-free passage of the strait for 60 days, pending the outcome of a final settlement on Tehran’s nuclear plans.
Confusion and Uncertainty for Shipping
The uncertainty has led many ships to be confused over where it’s safe to travel and the proper procedures for passage, according to Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at the Baltic and International Maritime Council, speaking to CNN. Speaking at a White House briefing on Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance said international waterways 'should be free of tolls'. 'The final negotiations can set the terms of what comes afterwards,' he said. 'I keep coming back to this fundamental structural point of this negotiation, which is that we have all the cards.'
Iran is trying to exert leverage over the strait by demanding that ships apply for permission to transit 'due to the presence of mine-affected areas and the necessity of ensuring safe passage and preventing collisions'. 'To avoid delays at the entrance or exit of the Strait of Hormuz, it is essential that passing requests, complete with all required information, are submitted at least 48 hours prior to arriving at the strait area,' they said. 'During the 60-day period, tariffs for security, safety, and environmental services, as well as related Iranian insurances, will not be collected from shipowners and will be borne by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.'
Regional Developments and Reactions
Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after intensified fighting in Lebanon led planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland to be cancelled on Friday. Former president Barack Obama has said it appeared the US was 'worse off' now than before Trump launched the war against Iran in February. He told NBC: 'We’ve now fought a war, spent billions and billions of dollars, you know, put enormous strain on our military. A lot of people have died. And it feels like we’re back where we were before we started the war, except maybe a little bit worse off.'
Obama noted Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons in the 2015 deal his administration struck with Tehran, which was derided and scrapped by Trump in his first term. He said: 'This administration, or a prior version of this administration, pulled out of it, which caused then Iran to develop more nuclear capacity.'
