Iran says Hormuz remains closed until U.S. meets its demands

Tehran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to commercial shipping until the United States complies with a set of Iranian demands and alters what Tehran describes as “behaviour” that threatens regional stability. The Iranian foreign ministry said the closure, which affects one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, will stay in force until Washington lifts sanctions on Iranian oil, releases detained Iranian nationals, and ceases what Iran calls “unjustified” naval patrols in the Gulf.

The decision comes as global energy markets grapple with rising crude prices, a trend analysts attribute to supply concerns and geopolitical tensions. The Hormuz Strait, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s petroleum passes, has been a flashpoint in U.S.-Iran relations for decades, and its shutdown could exacerbate price volatility and disrupt supply chains. Officials in the United States have warned that any prolonged blockage would have severe economic repercussions, while Iranian authorities maintain the move is a response to perceived violations of international law and a lever to compel diplomatic negotiations.