Iran doubles down on closing Strait of Hormuz as ceasefire nears expiration

A boat sails past a tanker anchored on the Strait of Hormuz off the coast Qeshm island, Iran (Asghar Besharati/AP)

Iran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, as mediators scrambled to secure further talks before the ceasefire expires this week.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised interview that Tehran would continue to threaten commercial vessels transiting the critical waterway, after it fired on ships attempting to pass on Saturday.