Iran Recloses Strait of Hormuz Despite Ceasefire in Lebanon
Iran's central military command announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to shipping, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah declared on Friday. The strait is a crucial route for oil and gas transport, and its blockade previously caused turmoil in global energy markets.
Despite the ceasefire announced on Friday between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, clashes and Israeli airstrikes continued in Lebanon on Saturday. On the same day, Iran's central military command announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to shipping.
The strait, a vital waterway for oil and gas shipments, had been blocked for most of the war, causing significant turmoil in global energy markets. Iran had agreed to reopen it under a provisional agreement with the United States, and shipping had resumed in recent days.
Further talks on a US-Iran agreement were scheduled for Friday in Switzerland but were postponed indefinitely. The postponement followed Israel's launch of attacks in Lebanon after four of its soldiers were killed in clashes. Iran's decision to close the strait again is likely to further disrupt energy markets and heighten regional tensions.
