Iran announces plans to close Strait of Hormuz, alleging ceasefire violations by Israel
Iran's consulate in India and state media announced plans to partially close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which Tehran considers a breach of the ceasefire. US officials expressed skepticism, and maritime traffic continues.
Iran announced plans to close the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, citing “continuous violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon” by Israel. The announcement was made via a post on X by Iran’s Consulate-General in India, describing the move as a “first step as a response to the enemy’s breach of promise.” It warned that further steps would be taken if aggression continues. No timeline was provided.
Iran’s state-run Mehr news agency, citing the joint military command, attributed the decision to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which it labeled as violations of the ceasefire agreement. The deal, a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, was signed last week in Versailles. US President Donald Trump had previously expressed concern that Israeli strikes in Lebanon could undermine the nearing accord. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “Why are you blowing up buildings?” and urged a “softer touch” in Lebanon.
US Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about the reports on Fox News, stating that the administration saw no evidence of actual closure and that maritime traffic remained unaffected. Vance added that he might join special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks in Switzerland “as soon as tomorrow.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that “safe passage through the international waterway remained intact” as 55 merchant ships transited on Saturday, carrying over 17 million barrels of oil. Trump had previously declared the waterway open and toll-free after announcing the MOU.
The White House did not immediately comment. Trump has consistently stated that ending the war depends on Iran reopening the strait. Before the agreement, he threatened to “continue blasting Iran into oblivion” until the strait was reopened.
The reported closure raises questions about the durability of the US-Iran deal. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for about 20% of global oil transit. Previous threats during the conflict caused energy price spikes.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) criticized the situation on X, calling it “the continuing price of Trump’s incompetence.”
