U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Faces Tensions as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:53:00 +0200

The fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is under significant strain, just a day before scheduled negotiations in Pakistan. Washington has accused Tehran of not adhering to promises regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which remains nearly fully blocked, causing unprecedented disruption to global oil and gas supplies. Iran has cited Israel's attacks on Lebanon, including the heaviest strikes of the conflict, as a key reason for not easing the blockade. In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, only a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers passed through the strait, which normally handles about one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments and 140 ships daily. Meanwhile, Israel continued attacks in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah launchers, while Hezbollah responded with missile fire on Israel. The U.S. and Israel maintain that Lebanon is not part of the current ceasefire, but Iran and Pakistan claim otherwise. Iranian officials insist that Lebanon and Iran’s re