Iran Continues Blocking Ships in Strait of Hormuz Despite US Agreement to Release Frozen Funds

Despite recent reports of an agreement between the United States and Iran to halt attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to assert control over the strategic waterway by threatening vessels via radio communications. This development follows news that the US and Iran agreed to release three billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets, likely held in Qatar, which Iran can use for any purpose.

The IRGC and Iran's joint military command issued a rare warning to all ships navigating the Strait, instructing captains to strictly follow Tehran-designated shipping routes. The statement emphasized that any deviation would provoke immediate military response, endangering the safety of offending vessels. Iran aims to prevent ships from using routes closer to Omani shores to maintain dominance over the passage, which is vital for global energy supplies, carrying about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

This escalation comes just one day after the US Central Command met with representatives from 12 Middle Eastern countries in Bahrain to discuss regional security and reaffirm their commitment to free navigation through the Strait. Meanwhile, Qatar's foreign ministry described indirect talks in Doha as showing positive progress toward a memorandum of understanding, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions.

Additionally, US analysts note Pakistan's unique role as a mediator following Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement that he will attend the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei next week. The ongoing tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz remain a central issue in US-Iran diplomatic negotiations, despite the recent financial agreement.