Iran: Strait of Hormuz to stay closed until US ends the war
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends the war, even as it holds talks with Oman on a temporary transit corridor. Washington has meanwhile imposed fresh sanctions on Tehran.
Iranian officials said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as the United States continues its war against the country. The statement came even as Tehran holds parallel talks with Oman over establishing a temporary shipping corridor through the strategically vital waterway.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Tuesday he hoped his country and Iran would soon be able to announce the creation of such a temporary corridor, following weeks of negotiations between the two sides.
New US sanctions
Washington had already unveiled new sanctions intended to pressure Iran into capitulating. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the measures would amount to "economic asphyxiation" for the country.
Other regional developments
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Tuesday an incursion by Israeli forces into a training center operated by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, located in a suburb of east Jerusalem.
Separately, US President Donald Trump said that all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz have either been removed or detonated. He added that Iran had been warned that any ship or boat attempting to lay new mines would be destroyed.
