The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz lasted less than 24 hours. Iran shut down this strategically important waterway again yesterday, saying it was in retaliation for the US blockade of Iranian ports, just three days before the ceasefire between the two countries expires, with Tehran stating that the two sides are “still far” from reaching an agreement.

The Islamic Republic announced yesterday morning that it is regaining “strict control” over the Strait, reversing its decision from the previous day to reopen this crucial maritime route, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passes.

Shortly after this renewed closure was announced, at least three commercial ships attempting to pass through the Strait came under fire.

“Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and ships violating the closure will be targeted,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned.

Hours later, ships were fired upon while trying to cross the Strait. Among them were two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil, according to New Delhi, which summoned the Iranian ambassador in response.

“They cannot blackmail” the United States, reacted angrily US President Donald Trump to Tehran’s latest move.

The US “cannot impose a siege” on the Strait of Hormuz, responded Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh.

After more than a month of war that has left thousands dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and caused major disruptions to the global economy, the announcement on Friday that the Strait would reopen had boosted financial markets, while oil prices dropped sharply.

Diplomatic choreography

The return to a hardline stance, which risks further turmoil in global markets when they reopen on Monday, comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to bring Iran and the US back to the negotiating table after the failure of the first round of talks on April 12 in Islamabad. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he is “working tirelessly” toward that goal, along with Pakistan.

On Friday, Trump said that Iran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, a key issue in the negotiations—something Tehran denied.

While the US president again spoke on Saturday of “very good talks” with Tehran, the Iranian side offered a different account. “We have made progress in the negotiations, but many differences remain. Some fundamental issues are still unresolved,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Saturday night in a lengthy interview on Iranian television. “We are still far” from reaching a final agreement, he stressed.

Ghalibaf participated in the negotiations held on April 11–12 in Islamabad with the US delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance.

During the talks in the Pakistani capital, “we made it clear that we have absolutely no trust in the United States,” Ghalibaf said. The US “must abandon unilateral actions and its tendency to impose its will,” he added.

Tehran has received “new proposals” from Washington for talks aimed at a permanent end to the war in the Middle East, the Supreme National Security Council announced, adding that Iranian negotiators will make “no compromises.”

“Finger on the trigger”

In Lebanon, another front in the war, a French soldier was killed and three others wounded—two seriously—in an ambush against UN peacekeeping forces in the south of the country.

The attack, which took place the day after a ten-day ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon, was attributed to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which denied any involvement.

On Saturday, the Israeli army announced it had established a “yellow line” demarcation in southern Lebanon, similar to the Gaza Strip, and has been carrying out strikes since yesterday against suspects approaching its troops. It also said one of its soldiers was killed Friday, the first day of the ceasefire, in an incident in the same area.

This Sunday morning, the Israeli army announced that another Israeli soldier was killed during fighting in southern Lebanon, adding that nine more were wounded, including one seriously.

“A ceasefire means a complete halt to all hostilities. Since we do not trust this enemy, resistance fighters will remain in the field, with their finger on the trigger, and will respond to any violations,” said Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, stressing that a ceasefire cannot be “one-sided.”

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, many residents took advantage of the ceasefire to return and assess the condition of their homes before going back to living in tents, fearing that Israeli airstrikes could resume at any moment.

The war in Lebanon began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in retaliation for the Israeli-American war against Iran. Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,300 people and displaced more than one million, according to authorities.