A strait still closed, a ceasefire already broken

In announcing a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump said the United States would “suspend” planned strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges for two weeks. In exchange, Iran pledged the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet, aside from allowing four non-tanker cargo ships to pass on Wednesday, and a handful on Thursday, the strait has remained effectively closed. Iranian leaders moved the goalposts. According to state media reports, they claimed that Israel’s strikes on the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon constituted a breach of the ceasefire — despite the agreement making no mention of Hezbollah.