TEHRAN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- If the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire between the two countries and will close the waterway, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday, citing an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council.
The warning came after Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said earlier in the day that the strait will be "completely open" for the passage of all commercial vessels for the remaining period of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, aligning with the newly-enforced truce in Lebanon.
The source said that Iran had initially agreed to allow some vessels' passage through the strait under the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire plan, but suspended it because the ceasefire was not enforced in Lebanon and did not apply to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
According to the source, Iran has specified three conditions for the vessels' passage: the vessels must be commercial and not military, unaffiliated with hostile countries, and follow Iran-determined routes with prior coordination with Iranian authorities.
Iran tightened control over the strait after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade on the strait following its failed negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The peace talks were held Saturday and early Sunday, following a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel that took effect on April 8. A second round of talks is likely to take place on Sunday in Islamabad, media reports said.
Earlier on Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz has been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. naval blockade against Iran will "remain in full force." ■
