Chaos in the Middle East / Strait of Hormuz closed again, shooting at ships reported

Ships heading towards the Strait of Hormuz have begun to change course today after the Iranian military reiterated that transit for commercial ships will be strictly restricted as long as the US blockade continues.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says control of the Strait of Hormuz has now "returned to its previous state" due to the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports.

A tanker has reportedly been shot down by Iranian warships while traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. This comes as the Iranian military said restrictions on the vital waterway were being reimposed, alleging "repeated breaches of trust" by the US.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that a container ship was hit by an 'unknown projectile' 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman, which caused damage to some of the containers.

Several merchant ships received a radio message from the Iranian Navy saying the Strait of Hormuz had been closed again, shipping sources told Reuters.

The Iranian navy told the tankers that no ships are allowed to pass through the Strait, the sources added.

The US has forced 23 ships to turn back since it began its blockade of Iranian ports on April 13, US Central Command said this morning.

"Since the beginning of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with instructions from US forces to return," CENTCOM said.

The update followed a chaotic 24-hour period during which the Strait of Hormuz was declared reopened by Tehran and then closed again.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian delegations will hold talks Monday on a deal that could potentially end the war, Iranian sources told CNN. The U.S. has not confirmed that talks are planned. President Donald Trump says he may not extend a ceasefire with Iran if negotiations fail.

Meanwhile in Lebanon, Israel said it would impose a “yellow line,” also used in Gaza, barring displaced residents from returning to 55 occupied villages. A French soldier from a UN peacekeeping force was killed in an attack that President Emmanuel Macron said was likely carried out by Hezbollah.

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