Iran Keeps Strait of Hormuz Closed, Says Final Deal With US Still Distant

Strait of Hormuz Crisis - Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments

Iran Keeps Strait of Hormuz Closed, Says Final Deal With US Still Distant

The strategic Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed on Sunday as the standoff between Iran and the United States deepened, with Tehran insisting that a final peace agreement is still “far off” despite ongoing negotiations.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, signalled cautious progress in talks but stressed that key disagreements remain unresolved.

“There has been progress… but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain. We are still far from the final discussion,” Ghalibaf said in a televised address, underscoring the fragile state of diplomacy.

The latest developments come as mediation efforts involving regional players, including Pakistan and Egypt, continue following high-level talks that ended without a breakthrough.

Iran has maintained that it will not reopen the vital maritime route—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass—until Washington lifts its blockade on Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump said “very good conversations” were ongoing but warned Tehran against attempting to “blackmail” the United States, adding that Washington would continue to take a firm stance.

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The situation has been further complicated by shifting signals from Tehran. On Friday, Iran briefly declared the strait open following a temporary ceasefire tied to efforts to halt hostilities involving Israel and Iran-backed forces in Lebanon. The announcement initially calmed global markets and drove oil prices down.

However, Iran quickly reversed course after the U.S. reiterated that sanctions and maritime restrictions would remain until a comprehensive agreement is reached.

“If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited,” Ghalibaf warned.

Tensions escalated further after Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern warning that any vessel attempting to pass through the strait without authorisation would be considered as cooperating with hostile forces and could be targeted.

Shipping activity in the area has since dropped sharply. While a few oil and gas tankers briefly crossed during the short-lived reopening, most vessels have retreated, leaving the critical waterway largely empty.

Security incidents have heightened fears of escalation. A UK maritime security agency reported that Iranian forces fired at a tanker, while another vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing damage but no casualties. Separately, a commercial vessel was reportedly threatened while attempting to exit the Gulf.

India also lodged a diplomatic protest after two of its flagged vessels were involved in a reported shooting incident in the strait, reflecting growing international concern over the safety of global shipping routes.

On the diplomatic front, negotiations remain deadlocked over Iran’s nuclear programme—particularly its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium. While Washington has indicated that Iran may be willing to relinquish the material, Tehran has firmly rejected the claim.

Iran’s leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, has insisted that the country will not surrender what it describes as its “legal right” to a peaceful nuclear programme.

“How come the U.S. president declares that Iran should not use its nuclear rights but does not say why?” Pezeshkian said, questioning Washington’s position.

The current crisis traces back to a broader regional conflict that escalated after coordinated military actions involving the United States and Israel earlier this year, which triggered retaliatory strikes and drew in Iran-backed groups across the Middle East.

With a fragile two-week ceasefire set to expire midweek, uncertainty remains high. Analysts warn that failure to reach a deal could lead to renewed hostilities and further disruption to global energy markets.

For now, Iran’s position remains unchanged: no reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without concessions from the United States, and no final agreement until core disputes are resolved.