Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed following US naval operation

Following a large-scale American naval operation to transport crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran announced that the strategic waterway will remain closed until Washington fulfills several conditions. Tehran's demands include lifting port blockades, ending energy sanctions, unfreezing financial assets, and halting military operations across all fronts.

The closure follows heightened hostilities in the region. After US forces utilized air, maritime, and space capabilities in a nighttime transit of millions of barrels of crude oil, Iranian forces responded by deploying rocket-launched sea mines. American military forces subsequently launched a retaliatory strike on Iran's Larak Island. Analysts caution that both nations face a shrinking window to exert strategic pressure, raising risks of further escalation.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)