Iran on Tuesday partially closed the Strait of Hormuz as part of security precautions as the country reached an agreement on “a set of guiding principles” that would pave the way for a nuclear deal with US.
“Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV.
The two countries held second round of indirect talks in Switzerland’s Geneva, which he described as “more constructive” than the previous round earlier this month.
’30 minutes, three warnings’
Before the talks concluded, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued three consecutive warnings on X in a timeframe of 30 minutes.
Referring to US President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks about US pressure on Iran, Khamenei said, “The US President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this.'”
He then questioned US military dominance, “The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again.”
In a third warning referencing American naval deployments, he added, “The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”
Why did Iran temporarily close Strait of Hormuz?
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards are reportedly conducting military drills in the waterway. The exercise was designed to improve Iran’s operational readiness and bolster its deterrence, among other objectives.
Notably, this marked the first time Iran shut parts of Strait of Hormuz, a major international waterway that links crude producers in the Middle East with key markets across the globe, since US President Donald Trump threatened Tehran with military action in January.
Strait of Hormuz: A vital oil chokepoint
Located in the Gulf between Oman and Iran, the strait is recognised as one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.
About 13 million barrels per day of crude oil transited the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, accounting for roughly 31% of global seaborne crude flows, data provided by market intelligence firm Kpler showed.
Tuesday’s temporary closure of the waterway was aimed at ensuring shipping safety as part of the Revolutionary Guards’ “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” drill.
What impact will Hormuz’s closure have?
Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at BIMCO, which represents global shipowners, said the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz was likely to cause “minor nuisance and delays” to inbound shipping headed for the Persian Gulf, but no major disruptions, CNBC reported.