Iran Keeps Hormuz Closed as US-Iran Ceasefire Stalls
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- United States and Iran have both signaled a preference not to resume hostilities since the ceasefire announced on 8 April.
- United States maintains powerful naval and air forces within striking distance of Iran.
- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after being attacked by the United States and Israel on 28 February, leaving only a trickle of ships able to pass.
- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a US‑Iran ceasefire and continues an offensive in Lebanon, narrowing President Trump’s diplomatic options.
- Iran says it will require sanctions relief or unfrozen assets as a price to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a prerequisite for broader US‑Iran negotiations.
Why it matters: Iran’s hold on Hormuz keeps global oil supply down ~20%, raising fuel costs for consumers worldwide while limiting US leverage in negotiations; Trump faces domestic pressure to reopen the waterway.
