Iran said 'ambiguous agreements' cannot guarantee safe passage in the Strait of HormuzShow Caption
Iran reasserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and warned neighboring countries against siding with the United States in moves that highlight the fragility of the June 17 preliminary agreement to end the war.Iranian state TV said June 26 that three foreign tankers attempting what it called an "unauthorized passage" of the strait were turned back after a warning from its military. The TV report gave no further details.President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Iran shot at least four attack drones and hit a cargo ship, but the ship was able to proceed despite the damage. He said the U.S. knocked down the other three drones."Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement," Trump wrote.Iran said it was responding to what it called an "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" joint statement by the United States and six countries that rejected Iran's insistence that it could charge tolls on ships in the Strait of Hormuz."Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes or decision-making that does not take Iran's role as a coastal state into account," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X.Asked about the matter, a U.S. official told Reuters: "We are aware of these reports and looking into them. President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the Strait."Oil prices dropped by more than 3% on Friday, on course for steep weekly losses despite the conflicting interpretations of last week's interim deal between Iran and the U.S. and a slowdown in traffic through the strait, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically passes.Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Gulf, the world's biggest oil port, after a nearly four-month halt, shipping data showed.Fertilizer shipments through the strait have also picked up, helping to assuage concerns about a spike in global food prices because of the waterway's prolonged closure.Contributing: Reuters.
