Iran's Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Tensions Rise

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe news today, I'm Kory with the story. Iran's holding firm on blocking ships through the strait of Hormuz until the U.S. lifts its blockade on their ports. Their top negotiator, parliamentary speaker Mohamed Bogger Kualaibov, made that clear in a recent interview, saying no one passes while they can't. This comes after their navy fired on two India flag ships, Saturday forcing them to turn back and keeping the key oil route, one-fifth of the world's supply mostly shut down. Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expires by Wednesday, ramping up tensions in this war now in its eighth week. Iran briefly reopened the strait Friday after a truce with Hezbollah and Lebanon, but Trump's insistence on keeping the port blockade forced their hand. Again, ships in the Persian Gulf are staying put, wary of more trouble. Iranians are pouring in, with India's foreign ministry summoning Iran's ambassador over

1:01the incident. Iranian officials blame U.S. miscalculations for risking the global economy and the whole ceasefire deal. The standoffs already killed at least 3,000 in Iran, over 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, more than a dozen in Gulf states and 13 U.S. troops. On the diplomacy front, Pakistan's mediating new U.S. proposals delivered during a recent visit by their army chief. They're pushing for talks next week, but Iran's deputy foreign minister says, no face-to-face yet. The U.S. stands as too hard line and handing over there. 440 kilograms of enriched uranium is off the table. Trump called Iran out for getting cute, but says good talks are underway. With mediators' bridging gaps and the clock ticking, this Hormuz chokehold could either spark fresh fighting or force a breakthrough before things boil.