-- Iran signaled that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely while the US maintains the naval blockade, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's Parliament speaker, said Wednesday.
Ghalibaf said in a post on X, "A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world's economy".
He said ongoing military actions across multiple fronts must stop, adding that "reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire."
"They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying," Ghalibaf said, adding that progress depends on acknowledging Iran's national rights.
Iranian forces disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after opening fire on and seizing commercial vessels on Wednesday, according to media reports.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captured two ships, MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, claiming they attempted to exit the strait secretly, the reports added.
US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on Tuesday, conditional on Iran submitting a proposal. However, he said the US blockade on Iranian ports and vessels would remain in force.
Meanwhile, Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, "I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed."
He added that four are set for immediate release, while the remaining four will serve one-month prison terms.
Trump welcomed the development, saying, "I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request."
On Tuesday, Trump had urged Iranian leaders to release the women ahead of negotiations, calling it "a great start" and asking that they not be harmed, he said on Truth Social.