ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iranian military authorities on Saturday announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, days after its reopening, citing Washington's alleged failure to uphold a recent agreement with Tehran and Israel's latest attacks in Lebanon.
"In view of the United States' clear breach of its commitments and failure to implement the first clause of the agreement to end the war, and in response to the continuous and ongoing violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon, the ruthless killing and displacement of hundreds of thousands of the oppressed people of that land, and also considering the failure of the Zionist occupying forces to withdraw from the territories of southern Lebanon, it is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic," said Khatam al-Anbiya, Iran's military command, in a statement carried by semi-official media.
The command described the move as "the first step" in responding to the alleged violations, warning that Tehran would take further measures if the attacks continue.
The announcement comes two days after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding following intensive talks mediated by Pakistan. The agreement ended nearly two weeks of hostilities between Iran, the US, and Israel and stipulated the immediate reopening of the strategic waterway.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz came hours after the Israeli military said it had struck “dozens of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites & terrorists in southern Lebanon throughout the night,” accusing the Iran-backed Lebanese group of violating the ceasefire by launching more than 50 projectiles toward Israeli soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon.
The latest developments also come as Washington and Tehran prepare for negotiations in Switzerland aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire and addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
US Vice President DJ Vance told Fox News in an interview aired earlier on Saturday that US special envoys were on their way to Switzerland, adding that he plans to be there “in the coming days.”
He noted that he is confident the ceasefire with Iran will hold and that Tehran will never be able to rebuild its nuclear program, which American officials say has been “obliterated” by US strikes.
The US-Iran memorandum stipulates that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, where tensions have resurfaced amid renewed exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah despite the agreement.
Updated at 4:56 pm
