TEHRAN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced on Saturday the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz due to the continued U.S. blockade of the waterway, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the headquarters' spokesman, said Iran had agreed to the passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in a managed manner with goodwill, in line with earlier peace negotiation agreements reached in Pakistan.
"However, the United States, with its track record of frequent breaking of its promises, is still continuing its banditry and piracy under the so-called title of (naval) blockade," Zolfaghari said.
The strait's control has therefore "returned to its previous state, and this strategic strait is under the strict management and control by the (Iranian) armed forces," he added.
He stressed that Iran will maintain strict control of the strait until the United States ends its naval blockade aimed at preventing ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait beginning Feb. 28, barring passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory. The United States subsequently imposed its own blockade on the waterway after peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed.
On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would remain "completely open" to commercial shipping for the duration of the current two-week truce between Iran and the United States, which took effect on April 8, in line with the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon. ■
