Kathmandu. Regional tensions have resurfaced after Iran said it would not fully open the Strait of Hormuz until the United States lifts a naval blockade on its ports. The global energy market has also renewed interest and concern as the waterway that has been opened for some time has become uncertain again.

In a televised address, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said there were still “fundamental differences” while talks with the US had made some progress. According to him, the final peace agreement does not seem possible immediately and the talks have not yet reached a decisive stage. He said there were “many complicated aspects” left in the talks aimed at ending the war with Israel and the United States.

The two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday, making the situation even more uncertain. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran not to use pressure tactics, saying he is having “good talks” with Iran. He also accused Iran of trying to “blackmail” the international community through Hormuz.

On Friday, Iran announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz after Israel reached an agreement with its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas are transported through this route, the decision brought relief to the world market and reduced oil prices. But after the United States took a stand on maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports, Tehran has again indicated that it will limit the waters.

“If the US does not lift the blockade, movement to Strait Strait will definitely be restricted,” Ghalibaf warned. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mohottaba Khamenei said in a written message that the Iranian navy is fully ready to fight against the United States.

Amid the tensions, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has warned that ships crossing the straits without permission will be considered collaboration with the enemy and will be “targeted” if necessary. While some oil and gas tankers passed through the brief reopening, many ships have retreated and the waterway appeared largely deserted as of Saturday afternoon, tracking data showed.

The British Agency for Maritime Security said a tanker had been shot down, while security firm Vanguard Tech said Iran’s military had threatened to destroy an empty cruise ship as it sailed out of the Gulf. In another incident, containers were damaged when an unidentified projectile struck a ship, although there was no fire.

Meanwhile, India has summoned the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi to protest against the firing on two ships carrying its flag in the strait. Diplomatic initiatives are also ongoing. Egypt, which is involved in mediation with Pakistan, has expressed hope that a final agreement can be reached soon. Iran’s highly-enriched uranium stockpile and control of the Strait of Hormuz have been seen as major obstacles to the talks.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to hand over 440 kilograms of enriched uranium. Iran has rejected the proposal and said that such a proposal has never come up for negotiations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the stockpile was in a safe place and there were no plans to hand it over to the United States.

The conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 28, has swept through Iran, the Gulf states, Israel and Lebanon. A French soldier has been killed and three others injured in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. French President Emmanuel Macron blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the group has denied the allegations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying preliminary assessments suggested the attack was carried out by Hezbollah. The incident has further complicated regional tensions and posed a challenge to peace efforts.