Oil tankers have begun moving through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports, but Iran has warned it will not remain open if the US blockade continues.
Reuters reports that a group of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers and several oil product and chemical tankers passed through Iranian waters south of Larak Island with more tankers following from the Gulf, according to MarineTraffic data.
It the first major movement of ships in the vital route since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran seven weeks ago.
Iran reopened the strait following a separate ceasefire agreement by Israel and Lebanon on Thursday.
However, Iran’s speaker of parliament and senior negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned it “will not remain open” if the US blockade continued.
It came after Donald Trump said on Friday that he may end the ceasefire with Iran unless a long-term deal to end the war is agreed by Wednesday.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade (on Iranian ports) is going to remain,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. “So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again.”
