Shafaqna Pakistan: The new authority overseeing the Strait of Hormuz confirmed on Thursday that the waterway has been placed under a complete closure order until further notice, following an overnight announcement by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
In a statement posted on X, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said the decision was taken in response to rising tensions and what it described as “aggression” by US forces in the region. It added that transit permits already issued would be suspended, and affected vessels were instructed to await further guidance.
The announcement comes amid heightened instability in Iran, as military exchanges between Iranian and US forces have intensified in recent days.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts toward a possible interim agreement to de-escalate hostilities between the two sides have reportedly accelerated. According to multiple Iranian sources and a European official cited by Reuters, discussions are ongoing that include proposals related to the release of frozen Iranian assets, even as both sides continue to exchange strikes.
The sources said Iran and the United States were still exchanging messages over details of a memorandum of understanding amid the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but some issues remained to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks.
“Iran wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright,” said one of the Iranian sources.
Source: Dunya News
