Iran has abruptly re‑closed the Strait of Hormuz just one day after announcing a temporary reopening. The British military says Iranian gunboats fired warning shots at a tanker off the coast of Oman without prior radio contact, while other commercial vessels reported being warned by Iran's navy not to transit the waterway. The incidents at sea come amid a fragile, US‑brokered ceasefire in Lebanon following more than a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Tehran says its decision to reimpose the blockade is a response to what it describes as a continued US blockade of Iranian ports, which it claims violates a ceasefire understanding. According to Middle East expert Simon Mabon of Lancaster University, the rapid reversal highlights how quickly decisions are being made in Tehran, Washington, Israel and Beirut — creating a highly fluid and unpredictable strategic environment. Mabon argues that Iran's mixed signals reflect competing pressures inside the country.