Tag: Strait of Hormuz

Iran Says Strait Of Hormuz Will Remain Closed Until US Accepts Its Terms

ISTANBUL, July 16 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Iran said early Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States (US) accepts Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing local media. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akrami-Nia said control of the strait must be brought under Iran’s authority before it can be reopened. He said Washington must comply with the terms of last month's framework peace deal, halt what he called hostile actions, and accept Iranian rules governing the strait. Akrami-Nia added that continued US military action would not force Iran to reopen the waterway. His remarks came after a fresh wave of explosions was reported across several Iranian cities as the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced additional strikes on the country. CENTCOM said the strikes targeted Iranian military capabilities linked to threats on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global trade. The attacks came amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, with American forces striking Iran and Tehran responding with attacks on US military bases across the region despite a Pakistani-mediated framework agreement towards reaching a lasting settlement. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

ISTANBUL, July 16 (Bernama-Anadolu) — Iran said early Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States (US) accepts Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing local media. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akrami-Nia said control of the strait must […]

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy, US Forces Exchange Fire In Strait Of Hormuz

ISTANBUL, July 15 -- Iran’s state television reported early Wednesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy and United States (US) forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu Ajansi reported. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing authorities in Hormozgan province, said explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, coastal cities and Iranian islands were caused by clashes in the strait. Mehr News Agency also said explosions heard east of Sirik were linked to exchanges of fire in nearby Gulf waters. The reports came amid a fresh wave of explosions across several locations in southern Iran as the military confrontation between Iran and the US intensified. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had launched another round of strikes against Iran, targeting what it described as capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM later said that US forces had resumed a naval blockade of vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. It added that more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft were operating across West Asia, saying American forces remained “vigilant, lethal and ready”. Tensions have escalated between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, with the two sides exchanging attacks despite a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding aimed at ending their conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

ISTANBUL, July 15 — Iran’s state television reported early Wednesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy and United States (US) forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu Ajansi reported. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing authorities in Hormozgan province, said explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, coastal cities and Iranian islands were […]

Ringgit opens higher against US dollar on uncertainty in West Asia

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would be the main focus at the moment, with crude oil prices such as WTI and Brent increasing by 9.42 per cent and 9.35 per cent to US$78.14 per barrel and US$83.12 per barrel respectively. Meanwhile, he said the yields on the two-year and 10-year US Treasury bonds rose by eight and six basis points to 4.28 percent and 4.62 percent respectively as inflation is expected to continue to rise, thus reinforcing expectations that the US Federal Reserve may raise policy rates this year. “This expectation has increased the US Dollar Index (DXY) to 101.276 points. "In this situation, emerging market currencies including the ringgit are expected to continue to fluctuate in the near term. Therefore, the ringgit exchange rate against the US dollar is expected to be in the range of 4.07 to 4.10 today," he told Bernama . At the opening of trading, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. The ringgit strengthened against the Japanese yen to 2.5040/5075 from 2.5110/5142 at Monday's close, rose against the British pound to 5.4297/4370 from 5.4475/4542 and rose against the euro to 4.6296/6359 from 4.6501/6558. The ringgit, on the other hand, was traded mixed against ASEAN currencies. The local unit rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.1417/1464 from 3.1489/1530 and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.1396/1618 from 12.1953/2151. However, the ringgit was unchanged against the Indonesian rupiah at 224.6/225.0 and remained flat against the Philippine peso at 6.60/6.62 compared to yesterday's close.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar on Tuesday following uncertainties in the Strait of Hormuz which increased global crude oil prices, said analysts. At 8am, the local unit rose to 4.0675/0730 against the US dollar from 4.0680/0730 at the close on Monday. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul […]

The US quietly escorted 87 tankers through the Strait of Hormuz – Trump

ISTANBUL, JUNE 20 -- US President Donald Trump said Washington quietly moved at least 87 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, under the cover of darkness, while the Iranian military was unaware of the operation, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. "We're going to leave at 1 a.m., all the lights are out, and our navy destroyers are going to sail alongside," Trump told Axios in an interview aired Friday. Trump said the operation was possible because US forces had "destroyed" Iranian radar and defense systems before the conflict. For more than a month, he said, "no one knew" where the oil transported through the waterway came from. The statement came after weeks of disruption to global energy markets following the US-Israeli attack on Iran which began on Feb. 28. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently said that "Project Freedom" has successfully escorted 125 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. In another development, speaking to US Air Force service members before departing Joint Base Andrews, Trump said the ships were sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz "like no one has ever seen before." The president reiterated that the US has "the greatest military anywhere in the world." Regarding the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran, Trump said Iran has 60 days to reach a final agreement. "We have an agreement that was signed last night. 60 days, they have to make an agreement, otherwise we will do things that will not please them. "I don't think it will get there. If we do that, then all of a sudden, you won't have oil flowing out of the strait," he said. On Wednesday, Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war between the US, Israel and Iran and halting Israel's attacks on Lebanon. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

ISTANBUL, JUNE 20 — US President Donald Trump said Washington quietly moved at least 87 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, under the cover of darkness, while the Iranian military was unaware of the operation, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. “We’re going to leave at 1 a.m., all the lights are out, and our navy […]

17 countries welcome US-Iran deal, urge reopening of Strait of Hormuz

ISTANBUL, JUNE 16 -- A group of 17 countries on Monday welcomed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced between the United States (US) and Iran, describing it as an opportunity to restore regional stability and support the global economy, Anadolu Ajansi reported. "This is an opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy," according to a joint statement by the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany and Italy. The statement was later signed by 13 other countries. They congratulated the US, Iran and mediators including Pakistan and Qatar on what they described as a diplomatic success. The leaders stressed that detailed negotiations should be concluded and the agreement implemented "swiftly and comprehensively," adding that they stand ready to assist the process. They also called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of "unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation." Other countries that signed the statement were Japan, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Greek Cypriot Administration, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Poland and Portugal. The group of leaders said they were committed to contributing to the effort, including through "resolute independent defense missions" aimed at reassuring commercial shipping and conducting mine clearance operations, in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. The statement reiterated that Iran "must never acquire nuclear weapons" and expressed its willingness to work with the US, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) towards that objective. The leaders also said they were ready to lift related sanctions in response to "clear and verifiable steps" by Iran on its nuclear program. They pledged to work closely with the US, Iran and regional partners to maintain momentum and reach a long-term diplomatic solution. It further reaffirmed support for the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and stressed the importance of a firm ceasefire. Regional tensions have escalated since late February after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing more than 3,000 people. Tehran responded with attacks on Gulf states and Israel, as well as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Washington and Tehran reached a temporary ceasefire on April 8 through Pakistani mediation before announcing a framework agreement to end the conflict. The agreement is expected to be officially signed in Switzerland on July 19. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

ISTANBUL, JUNE 16 — A group of 17 countries on Monday welcomed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced between the United States (US) and Iran, describing it as an opportunity to restore regional stability and support the global economy, Anadolu Ajansi reported. “This is an opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy,” […]

Vance Says US ‘making Progress’ On Iran Deal

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- US Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that Washington is "making progress" in negotiations with Iran while stressing President Donald Trump's red line that Tehran must never have a nuclear weapon. "I spent a good amount of time on the phone with both Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff this morning and a number of our friends in the Arab world this morning. I think that we are making progress," Anadolu Ajansi reported Vance told reporters when asked if the US is still engaging with the Iranians after Trump called Tehran's response "unacceptable." "The fundamental question is, do we make enough progress that we satisfy the president's red line? And the red line is very simple. He needs to feel confident that we've put a number of protections in place such that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," Vance said. "I thought we made some progress in Pakistan, but we've made more since then," he said. "The President has set us off on the diplomatic pathway for now, and that's what I'm focused on," he added. Asked about Trump's remarks that he does not think about "Americans' financial situation" when negotiating with Iran, Vance responded: "I think that's a misrepresentation of what the president said." "I agree with the president. Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. We're obviously engaged in a very aggressive and very engaged diplomatic process to try to ensure that that doesn't happen," he added. Vance said the ultimate aim was to give the American people assurance that Iran would never obtain nuclear weapons, describing the current diplomatic track as the president's chosen pathway for now. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb 28, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. The truce was later extended by US President Donald Trump without a set deadline. On Sunday, Iran sent Pakistan its response to a US proposal for ending the war, but Trump dismissed it as “totally unacceptable.” -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

WASHINGTON, May 14 — US Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that Washington is “making progress” in negotiations with Iran while stressing President Donald Trump’s red line that Tehran must never have a nuclear weapon. “I spent a good amount of time on the phone with both Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff this morning and […]