Strait of Hormuz situation ‘will not return to the past,’ Iran says amid escalating Mideast tensions

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous state, an Iranian military spokesman said on Wednesday, asserting Tehran's control over maritime access as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

In remarks carried by Iran’s Mehr news agency, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Iranian military's Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said new rules governing transit through the strategic waterway have been established, stressing that passage would depend on Iran’s authorization.

“The situation in the strait will not return to the past,” the spokesman said, adding that “permission for transit will be determined by us.” He added that “the fire beneath oil prices has been ignited, and its level is in our hands,” describing it as one of several variables in the confrontation.

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Zolfaghari said that “the resistance of our people and the power of our armed forces are increasing moment by moment,” while asserting that adversaries have become “grounded” and are showing increasing signs of weakness.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global goods and energy trade, had been largely disrupted by escalating tensions in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation.

France rules out military action in Hormuz

France will not participate in military operations to open the Strait of Hormuz by force but is ready to take responsibility for securing maritime routes in line with international law, the country's prime minister said on Wednesday.

"France is not a party to the conflict; it will not participate in military operations to open the Strait of Hormuz by force; it will not allow itself to be drawn into a war that it did not choose," Sebastien Lecornu said in the National Assembly during his speech on Middle East escalation.

However, the premier said France is ready to take responsibility for securing maritime routes within the framework of international law and with its partners.

"We are facing a problem of energy costs, not a problem of access... We must do everything to ensure that this maritime traffic crisis does not become an energy crisis," added Lecornu, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.

He went on to say that what is happening today in the Near and Middle East is a "war that is spreading, that is hitting civilian infrastructure, that threatens maritime security, and that is destabilizing an entire region for the long term."

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During his address to the lawmakers, he also announced the government's plans to invest an additional €8.5 billion (approximately $9.8 billion) in munitions orders between 2026 and 2030 as part of the update to the military programming law, which will be examined in parliament later this year.

"It is essential, and it is colossal," said the prime minister, also announcing the "imminent creation of the France Munitions platform, which will be a unique munitions wholesaler to meet the needs of our French armies and our allies."

The US and Israel have been carrying out airstrikes on Iran since February 28, killing more than 1,340 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.