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Iran warns it will close regional trade crossings if the US does not lift the Ormuz blockade

Following the conclusion of last Saturday's negotiations without agreement, the Iranian authorities have confirmed that they have continued to exchange messages with the US over the past few days that Pakistan is mediating.

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The Strait of Hormuz, in an image taken from the MarineTraffic website.

Iran has threatened to close all merchant ships in the Persian Gulf , the Oman Sea and the Red Sea if the United States does not lift the blockade imposed on merchant and oil vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. 

"If the US assailant and terrorist maintains their illegal blockade, the powerful Iranian Army will close the doors to all exports and imports into the Persian Gulf, the Oman Sea and the Red Sea, "said Iranian Commander Ali Abdolahi, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Abdolahi said the White House is violating the ceasefire agreed two weeks ago with the Ormuz blockade. 

The Central Command of the United States Armed Forces announced on Tuesday  that it would begin blocking Iranian ports and that it would "completely stop" maritime traffic in that country. 

Two days earlier, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had warned that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz will respond "firmly." 

The Strait of Hormuz straits Iran and Oman are separated. Persian between the Gulf of Oman and 20% of the world's oil and gas production zona 0 is transported from its waters.

Exchange of messages

Following the conclusion of last Saturday's negotiations without agreement, the Iranian authorities have confirmed that they have continued to exchange messages with the US, that Pakistan is mediating, and have added that in the next few hours a group of mediators could travel to Tehran to agree on a new attempt. 

"Since the return of the Iranian delegation from Tehran last Sunday until today, numerous messages have been exchanged through Pakistan, where our position was very clear and has remained so in the latest messages," said Ismail Bagaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at today's hearing.

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Paris (FRA), 17/04/2026.- (L-R) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz give a joint statement after an international summit to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, 17 April 2026. (Francia, Reino Unido) EFE/EPA/MICHEL EULER / POOL MAXPPP OUT
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The EU says the opening of Ormuz is good news but insists that travel must be free

"The imposition of tolls for transit would set a dangerous precedent," said the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. On the other hand, in the context of the crisis and convened by France and the United Kingdom, 50 countries and international organizations have met in Paris. They have announced the launch of a "neutral" maritime mission to "assist and protect" ships passing through the Persian Gulf.

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