Washington Moves to Restrict Iranian Maritime Access as Ceasefire Strains

Mintesinot Nigussie

Washington has moved to tighten restrictions on Iranian maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, a decision that comes as an already fragile ceasefire shows signs of strain following the collapse of high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The announcement, made after days of diplomatic talks that failed to bridge core disputes, signals a sharper turn in US policy at a moment when shipping lanes in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors are already under heightened scrutiny.

The U.S. Central Command said enforcement would begin at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, covering all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, including those along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It said the measures would be applied to vessels of all nationalities.

At the same time, it said commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations would not be obstructed, and that formal guidance would be issued to mariners before the operation begins.

President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the United States would target vessels he said had paid fees to Iran in international waters and move to eliminate naval mines he accused Tehran of deploying in the waterway. He warned that any attack on US forces or commercial shipping would be met with overwhelming force.

Tehran reacted swiftly, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warning that any approaching military vessels would be treated as a breach of the ceasefire and met with what it called a decisive response.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dismissed the US threats, saying Iran would respond in kind if confronted but would remain open to dialogue based on what he called logic. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government still sought a balanced agreement.

Businesses in energy, shipping and insurance sectors are closely monitoring the situation, as any further restrictions could significantly impact global oil prices and supply chains.

Overall, Washington’s decision to restrict Iranian maritime access highlights the fragility of the current ceasefire and the ongoing challenges in stabilising the region.