Iran’s parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran has achieved victory on the battlefield after several weeks of war. Speaking on national television, he said the country agreed to a temporary ceasefire only because its conditions were met. Ghalibaf asserted that the United States failed to achieve its objectives and that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran’s control.

He emphasized that Iran’s acceptance of the ceasefire was not a sign of weakness but a result of its terms being accepted by the opposing side. According to Ghalibaf, every effort by the enemy aimed to impose its demands on Iran, but the nation prioritized defending its rights. He described negotiations as an integral part of the broader struggle.

The statement comes amid reports that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has halted, underscoring the ongoing regional tension surrounding the conflict and its potential impact on global trade routes.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has issued a warning that any ship attempting to approach the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted. According to a statement broadcast by Iran’s state-run Press TV, the IRGC declared that vessels anchored in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman must not leave their designated positions. The force stated that any movement toward the Strait of Hormuz would be considered cooperation with the enemy and that such ships would be treated as hostile targets.

The statement further instructed all ships and their owners to rely solely on official IRGC Navy communication channels for the latest updates. It also dismissed recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as lacking credibility. The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions, with no signs of ship movement currently observed through the strategic waterway.

The IRGC’s announcement underscores Iran’s intent to assert control over maritime activity in the region, signaling potential risks for international shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has formally demanded the return of its frozen assets and compensation for war-related damages ahead of direct talks with the United States in Islamabad, mediated by Pakistan. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres seeking reparations from various countries. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mahajerani told Russian media that preliminary estimates put the losses at around $270 billion, covering infrastructure damage and industrial shutdowns.

According to Iranian state and semi-official media, billions of dollars in Iranian assets have been frozen worldwide since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, initially under an executive order by US President Jimmy Carter. Although partial returns occurred under the 1981 Algiers Accords and the 2015 nuclear deal, most funds remain inaccessible. The 2023 prisoner swap with the US briefly allowed Iran limited access to $6 billion in oil revenue held in Qatar, but that access was later suspended after renewed conflict.

Iranian officials have stated that the release of frozen assets is a non-negotiable condition for progress in any future negotiations with the United States.

Talks between the United States and Iran aimed at easing Middle East tensions have made some progress but remain stalled on major issues. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that while certain areas of understanding have been reached, significant gaps persist, making a final agreement uncertain. He emphasized that Iran prefers a step-by-step approach based on mutual commitments and cannot act unilaterally.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ghalibaf stated on state television that disagreements continue over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Despite these challenges, Tehran remains interested in achieving long-term peace. He also claimed that US and Israeli military actions have failed to meet their objectives and that Washington is now sending messages through mediators after agreeing to a temporary ceasefire.

The first round of US-Iran talks took place last week in Pakistan, which is now attempting to host a second round in Islamabad. The current two-week ceasefire, effective since April 8, has temporarily paused hostilities.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that although some progress has been made in ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, major differences remain on key issues. He made the remarks in comments reported by Al Jazeera, noting that while partial agreements were reached, the two countries still hold widely divergent positions on important matters.

Ghalibaf described the United States as an enemy and claimed that Washington had failed to achieve its objectives despite setting deadlines and issuing warnings. He said the US had begun sending messages through mediators after failing to reach its goals directly. According to him, Iran accepted a temporary ceasefire to pressure the US into meeting its demands, and former US President Donald Trump agreed to it because Iran had prevailed on the battlefield.

He further asserted that the US had not succeeded in changing Iran’s political system or destroying its missile and attack capabilities, adding that Trump’s efforts had failed and emphasizing that Iran is not comparable to Venezuela.

Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs reported that at least 3,468 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict involving US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The figure was released through Iran’s ISNA news agency, citing the foundation’s head, Ahmad Mousavi. Earlier, on April 12, the head of Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization had reported 3,375 deaths since the war began.

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. In response, Iran targeted US bases across the Middle East. After 40 days of fighting, a two-week ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan, though tensions remain high. The United States continues to blockade Iran’s seaports, while Iran maintains control over the vital energy transport route through the Strait of Hormuz.

The situation remains volatile as both sides hold their positions despite the temporary ceasefire, with no clear indication of a lasting resolution.

At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz after Iran declared the reopening of the key trade route during a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Ship-tracking data confirmed the movement, marking the first significant passage since the strait was closed by Iranian forces.

According to tracking firm Kpler, the vessels included one crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers, and one classified as an oil product ship. Another platform, Marine Traffic, showed several crude oil tankers still stationed near Iran’s Larak Island, which serves as a checkpoint for ships exiting the Persian Gulf and remains under Iranian blockade.

The closure of the strait had left hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, sharply increasing transport costs. Many captains had avoided the area due to fears of attacks or mines, but the temporary opening allowed limited passage for some vessels.

Severe confusion and disruption have gripped maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving thousands of ships stranded. Live tracking data shows most vessels turning westward despite Iran’s announcement that the route is open for commercial navigation. Yesterday, at least 12 ships attempted to approach Larak Island, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps monitors movement, but all turned back midway. About 10 ships managed to cross into the Gulf of Oman today, five of which are reportedly under U.S. sanctions.

The situation has created major uncertainty for international shipping companies, most of which are avoiding risk. Gulf states have strongly protested the disruption, calling it unacceptable and reiterating that free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a universal right. They maintain that Iran cannot impose restrictions on this vital maritime route.

The unfolding situation raises questions about how long the blockage will persist and whether U.S. naval forces will intervene to enforce sanctions or ensure freedom of navigation.

Iran has reopened six airports and allowed limited flights in its airspace after several weeks of suspension. The move comes just days before the end of a two-week ceasefire period, signaling a possible easing of restrictions in the country’s eastern skies. Flight tracking data showed at least two aircraft operating in Iranian airspace in recent hours. The reopened airports include Tehran’s Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad, along with Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan, and Zahedan.

Mehrabad Airport had suffered severe infrastructure damage during 40 days of conflict, when U.S. and Israeli forces carried out heavy bombings in nearby areas. Despite the destruction, the airport’s reopening is being viewed as a significant step toward restoring normal operations. Local sources indicated that airlines are preparing to resume both domestic and international services.

However, the overall situation remains fragile, and observers are closely monitoring whether the resumption of air traffic can continue under current conditions.

Iran has withdrawn its earlier decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of breaching trust. The announcement came through a statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters, which said the country had previously allowed limited oil and commercial vessel movement under a prior agreement. However, it claimed that the United States violated that understanding by continuing actions described as maritime piracy and theft under the pretext of sanctions.

The statement added that the strategic waterway is now under strict control of Iran’s armed forces. It warned that the situation would remain tense until the United States removes obstacles to the free movement of ships to and from Iran. Analysts cited in the report noted that Iran has been using control over this vital route as a key bargaining tool amid regional security and economic pressures.

The development underscores ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point of geopolitical friction in the region.

The Iranian Navy has announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping sources cited by Al Jazeera. The declaration was reportedly made through a radio message informing merchant vessels that the waterway is now closed and no ships are permitted to pass through. The announcement marks a sudden reversal, as Iran had previously declared the strait open for commercial navigation.

The abrupt decision has created significant confusion among international shipping companies, which are now waiting for clarity on the actual status of the vital maritime route. The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for global trade, and uncertainty over its accessibility has raised concerns within the shipping community.

The situation remains unclear as companies and observers await further confirmation or updates from Iranian authorities regarding the duration and scope of the closure.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any vessel attempting to pass through will be targeted. The decision reverses an earlier reopening of the vital waterway less than 24 hours prior. The IRGC said the closure will remain until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire in the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The statement warned that any ship approaching the strait would be considered cooperating with the enemy.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strait is under Iran’s control and criticized the US blockade as “clumsy and ignorant.” The reversal came after Iran briefly reopened the strait in line with a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which had led to a temporary drop in global oil prices. Reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that Iranian gunboats fired on two commercial ships.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would not be blackmailed and threatened to end the ceasefire if no deal is reached before its expiry. Analysts said the renewed closure signals a return to heightened tensions and competing blockades in the region.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described the blockade of Iranian ports as an 'unwise and wrong decision,' according to Al Jazeera. Speaking on state television, Ghalibaf said he had warned that if the United States did not lift its blockade, movement through the strait would be restricted. In a video message, he claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is currently under Iran’s control.

Ghalibaf added that when the United States attempted a mine-clearing operation in the strait, Iran strongly resisted and confronted them. Referring to the U.S. blockade, he said Iran considered it a violation of the ceasefire and warned that any such action would be met with attacks. Since the start of the war, Ghalibaf has emerged as one of the key figures in Iran’s administration and led the Iranian delegation in recent U.S.-Iran talks held in Islamabad.

The remarks highlight Iran’s firm stance on maritime control and its growing assertiveness amid ongoing tensions with the United States.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has declared that the country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, describing President Donald Trump’s demand as unacceptable. Speaking to the Associated Press, Khatibzadeh said Iran is not ready to resume talks with U.S. officials because Washington has failed to abandon what Tehran views as excessive demands regarding its nuclear program.

Khatibzadeh referred to Trump’s recent post claiming the U.S. was prepared to go to Iran to collect “all nuclear dust.” In response, he reaffirmed that no enriched uranium would be sent to the United States under any circumstances. He emphasized that while Iran remains open to addressing legitimate concerns, it will not accept any proposal it deems entirely unacceptable.

Following Trump’s recent assertions about securing major concessions from Iran, Khatibzadeh noted that multiple exchanges have taken place between the two sides but accused Washington of remaining inflexible on demands Tehran considers unreasonable.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating a ceasefire agreement. According to a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the IRGC said the closure would take effect from Saturday evening and remain in place until further notice. The group alleged that while several ships had crossed the strait the previous day, the U.S. failed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, which it described as a breach of the ceasefire terms.

The IRGC warned all ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman not to leave their anchorages, cautioning that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered as cooperating with the enemy and could be targeted. It instructed ship operators to follow only official IRGC Navy communications and Channel 16 directives. The statement also dismissed the U.S. president’s remarks on the region as unreliable and unacceptable.

The closure raises immediate concerns for maritime traffic and regional stability, though no timeline for reopening was provided.