Iran Restores Strait of Hormuz Controls; IRGC Gunboats Fire on Tanker

Iran's joint military command said Saturday that control measures in the Strait of Hormuz have been reinstated, walking back a Friday statement by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the strategic waterway was open to commercial shipping. A few hours later, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that two gunboats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait. The ship and its crew were safe, according to the Associated Press. Tehran blamed the move on what it described as a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, accusing Washington of breaching the April 7 ceasefire framework. Under the arrangement, Iran agreed to keep the strait open in exchange for a two-week pause in hostilities. Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary National Security Commission, said vessels will once again need authorization from Iran's navy and must pay a toll before transiting. The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG. Brent was trading near $130 a barrel before Friday's reopening announcement, which sent prices down more than 10%.