By Spy Uganda
Iran on Saturday announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon which Tehran says violate its recent agreement with the United States aimed at ending the conflict.
The announcement came as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Switzerland for a new round of peace talks with US Vice President JD Vance, underscoring the fragile nature of ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned vessels against approaching the strategic waterway.
“Any vessels attempting to approach the Strait will do so at their own risk,” the statement said, signaling heightened tensions in one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
However, the United States military disputed Iran’s claim that the passage had been effectively closed, insisting that commercial shipping continued uninterrupted throughout Saturday.
According to US officials, at least 55 merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait during the day, transporting more than 17 million barrels of oil and other cargo to global markets.
Military officials did not specify when the ships passed through the waterway, making it difficult to independently verify the extent of any disruption.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil exports passing through the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to international waters.
Commercial traffic through the Strait resumed earlier this week following the signing of an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran, a development that temporarily eased fears of wider regional instability.
The accord established a 60-day negotiating framework intended to address broader disputes between the two countries, including concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security issues.
Diplomatic sources indicate that a new round of negotiations is expected to begin on Sunday, with both sides seeking to build on the 14-point agreement reached earlier this week.
The latest developments raise fresh questions about the durability of the ceasefire arrangement and the prospects for a longer-term settlement as tensions continue to simmer across the region.
