TEHRAN / WASHINGTON – The global energy market was thrown into a tailspin on Saturday as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it has reimposed "strict management" over the Strait of Hormuz.
The move effectively shutters the world's most critical oil transit point just hours after a brief, optimistic reopening that saw nearly a dozen tankers attempt a "dash" through the waterway.
The "U-Turn" Crisis
The reversal follows a Saturday morning filled with conflicting signals.
The IRGC Ultimatum: Tehran maintains that the "piracy" of the ongoing U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports makes freedom of navigation impossible.
"Until the U.S. restores complete freedom for Iranian vessels, the situation will remain strictly controlled," the IRGC's operational command stated. The "Dash" for Daylight: Before the re-closure, several ships were seen hugging Iranian territorial waters, some even broadcasting their identities as "Indian" or "Chinese" to signal neutrality and avoid becoming targets.
Trump’s "Nuclear Dust" Claims
President Trump continued his upbeat—if controversial—rhetoric from Washington, claiming Iran has "agreed to everything," including the total removal of its enriched uranium.
The Claim: Trump told CBS News that "our people" would go in to retrieve Iran’s "nuclear dust" as part of a pending deal.
The Rejection: Iranian National Security spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei "categorically rejected" these claims, calling the idea of transferring enriched uranium—which he described as "sacred as Iranian soil"—a strategic red line that will not be crossed.
Life Under the "Digital Iron Curtain"
While the world watches the Strait, the domestic situation in Iran has reached a grim milestone. According to NetBlocks, the nationwide internet blackout has now entered its 50th day.
Total Isolation: Connectivity remains at a staggering 2% of normal levels.
Economic Toll: To stay connected, some Iranians are paying roughly $6 per gigabyte for smuggled Starlink access—a price nearly impossible to sustain for a population where the average monthly salary is less than $300.
Social Impact: The government has also ordered the indefinite suspension of all kindergartens, citing "safety and health" concerns amidst the ongoing tension.
The Diplomatic Endgame
Despite the "blizzard of contradictory statements," high-level diplomacy is continuing in the background. Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, concluded a three-day "shuttle diplomacy" mission to Tehran today, aimed at finalizing a framework for peace talks in Islamabad over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury has issued a strategic waiver allowing countries to buy Russian oil at sea until May 16.
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