Latest Iran says it has closed Hormuz again over US blockade

    Cairo, Apr 18 (AP) Iran has rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the hugely important waterway as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
    The announcement Saturday came after US President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels.
    Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again. Iran's Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil is shipped, came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.
    Despite the escalation, Pakistani officials say the United States and Iran are still moving closer to a deal ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline.
    The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
    
    Lebanese leaders discuss future talks with Israel
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     The meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam came during a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
    According to a statement from Aoun's office, the pair discussed Lebanon's “readiness for negotiations” with Israel. Lebanon and Israel have been in a state of war since 1948.
    Earlier this week, the two countries' ambassadors to the US held a meeting, in the first direct talks in decades.
    US President Donald Trump has invited Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, although no date has been set yet.
    Aoun has said he is ready to go anywhere to “liberate my country, protect my people and save my nation.”
    
     Iranian lawmaker clarifies conditions for transit through Hormuz
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     A senior Iranian lawmaker said only commercial vessels authorized by the Revolutionary Guard are allowed to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
    Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary National Security Commission, said in a social media post late Friday that commercial vessels must pay “required tolls” before transiting the strait, using a route set by Iran last month.
    “The time has come to comply with the new Maritime Regime of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “These regulations are determined by Iran, not by social media posts!”
    He warned that the mechanism could change “if the U.S. attempts to create any disturbance for Iranian ships.”
    
     Trump rejects notion of tolls by Iran on Strait of Hormuz
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     President Donald Trump flatly rejected the idea when a reporter asked about the prospect of restrictions or tolls managed by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz.
    “Nope. No way. No. Nope,” Trump said. He said there can't be tolls along with restrictions. “No, they're not going to be tolls.” (AP)
    
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)