Iran partially closes Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. nuclear talks
Iranian Navy soldiers aboard an armed speedboat near the Strait of Hormuz, about 1,320 km (820 miles) south of Tehran in the Persian Gulf, April 30, 2019.
Morteza Nikoubazl | Nurfoto | Getty Images
Iran partially closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, citing “security measures” as Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards conducted military exercises in the waterway, state media reported.
This came as the United States and Iran held talks in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.
This marks the first time Iran has closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, a key international waterway connecting Middle Eastern crude oil producers to key markets around the world, since US President Donald Trump threatened Tehran with military action in January.
Located in the Gulf between Oman and Iran, the strait is considered one of the most important oil transit points in the world.
About 13 million barrels of crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz per day in 2025, accounting for about 31% of the global seaborne crude oil flow, according to data provided by market intelligence firm Kpler.
The temporary closure of the waterway on Tuesday was aimed at ensuring shipping security as part of the Revolutionary Guard’s “Smart Control in the Strait of Hormuz” exercise. Exercise designed To improve Iran’s operational readiness and strengthen its deterrence, among other goals.
According to Reuters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters after the talks were completed that Iran and the United States agreed on “guiding principles” during the talks.
The official added that progress does not mean a deal will be reached soon and that more work needs to be done.
Energy market participants were closely monitoring the outcomes of the US-Iran talks, especially as both sides increased their military presence in the region.
Oil prices recently remained low, erasing previous gains. International comparison Brent Crude oil futures for April delivery fell 1.8% to $67.48 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate Futures contracts for March delivery fell 0.4% to $62.65.
Jakob Larsen, head of safety and security at BIMCO, which represents global shipowners, said that the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz may cause “minor inconveniences and delays” for ships heading to the Persian Gulf, but there is no major disruption.
“The exercise establishes a live-fire exercise area that overlaps with the introduction of the Strait of Hormuz’s Traffic Separation Plan and requests that ships stay away from the area for several hours,” Larsen said. he said.
“Given the level of tension in the region, commercial shipping is expected to comply with Iran’s request to stay away from the exercise area,” he added.
— CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report.
