Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until Iran is compensated for war damages, Iranian official says

Lead

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital oil shipping lanes, will not return to its pre-war state, according to statements from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Guard announced on Monday that the waterway has undergone "irreversible strategic changes" and will remain closed to the United States and Israel until Iran is compensated for damages from the recent conflict.

Coverage Comparison

Two major outlets — the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu — reported on the IRGC's announcement, though with notable differences in emphasis. The Jerusalem Post highlighted the IRGC Navy's operational preparations for a "new order in the Persian Gulf," describing the strait as "permanently changed" and noting that Iran is currently allowing select non-Iranian ships to transit for fees reaching seven figures. The Hindu focused on the IRGC's declaration that "the era of foreign hegemony over this critical waterway is definitely over," along with plans for a new security architecture in the region.

Key Claims

US President Donald Trump issued an expletive-ridden ultimatum. According to The Hindu, Trump posted a message on social media on Sunday night saying, "Open the F Strait, you crazy b*, or you'll be living in Hell." The Jerusalem Post also referenced Trump's "threats and ultimatum" to Iran, describing his tone as involving "profanity and raving." Both outlets note that Trump had previously issued several deadlines for Iran to reopen the strait or face severe bombing.

The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous status. The IRGC made this declaration in a statement, emphasizing that recent regional developments have established a new reality in which the U.S. can no longer dictate terms in Iran's immediate maritime environment. "The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous status, especially for the U.S. and the Zionist regime," the Guard said, as quoted by The Hindu.

Iran will only reopen the strait after compensation for war damages. In a post on his X/Twitter account, Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications in the Iranian president's office, said that the strait would only reopen when "the damages from the imposed war are fully compensated from a portion of transit toll revenues." This claim was reported exclusively by the Jerusalem Post.

Iran is allowing some ships to transit for fees. The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran is currently allowing select non-Iranian ships to transit the strait, charging up to seven-figure fees for some to do so. This detail has not been independently verified by other sources.

IRGC is completing operational preparations for a new order in the Persian Gulf. Both outlets noted that the IRGC Navy is finalizing operational preparations. The Hindu provided specifics: enhanced naval deployment, advanced monitoring systems, and coordinated rapid-response capabilities, all described as designed to safeguard Iran's territorial waters and ensure uninterrupted energy flow through the strait.

Iraq requested expedited oil lifting schedules. Following Iran's exemption of Iraq from restrictions on transit through the strait, Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO has asked customers to submit crude oil lifting schedules within 24 hours, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. On Sunday, President Trump said the U.S. was in talks with Iran and that a deal could be possible by April 6, threatening to "blow up everything" if no deal is reached. This was reported by The Hindu, but the claim of ongoing talks and the specific deadline have not been corroborated by other sources.

Perspectives

The situation is presented differently depending on the outlet's editorial perspective. The Jerusalem Post, with its Israel-centric focus, frames the IRGC announcement as a direct response to U.S.-Israeli pressure, using language like "permanently changed" and "sheer desperation" to describe Iran's posture. The Hindu, with a more neutral tone, emphasizes Iran's sovereignty and security interests, presenting the IRGC's statements as a legitimate assertion of regional power.

Notably, neither outlet provides independent verification of Iran's claims about the strait's closure or the compensation scheme. The reports rely heavily on official Iranian statements, leaving the actual status of shipping traffic in the region uncertain. The fee-for-transit detail and the timeline for possible U.S.-Iran negotiations remain unconfirmed by third-party sources.