Iran’s parliament speaker says strait will stay closed until US meets deal terms
A ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile on Tuesday, leaving at least one crew member harmed, according to an alert issued by the British Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations center. UKMTO said the security officer of the ship’s owner had reported that the engine room was hit while the vessel was sailing outbound through the strait from the Persian Gulf.
“The impact caused damage to the engine room and resulted in a crew casualty,” UKMTO said in the alert. “The remaining crew are currently being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard. At present, no environmental impact has been reported.” UKMTO did not identify the ship. It was not immediately clear whether the affected crew member was injured or killed, or what type of weapon was used.
The strike came as Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, vowed in remarks carried on Iranian state television that the strait would remain closed to shipping until Washington met conditions tied to a cease-fire agreement signed in June. “I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding… are implemented,” Ghalibaf said, naming the lifting of sanctions preventing Iran from selling oil abroad as a central demand.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency added to that list a demand that all U.S. military threats and operations be ended.
Sailings through the strait have remained drastically curtailed since the war began on Feb. 28, despite a 14-point framework that called for the waterway to be reopened to commercial vessels for the duration of a 60-day deal that expired Monday. The U.S. Navy is currently enforcing a blockade preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, according to UPI’s reporting.