Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel’s breach of Lebanon truce; US insists shipping continues

Iran announces closure

The IRGC Navy declared the strait closed to all ships and warned vessels to stay away, according to a statement carried by Reuters. The Mehr news agency first reported the move, describing it as a "first step" in response to what Tehran called the failure of the US and Israel to honour the Lebanon ceasefire. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson told the Fars agency:

“Our approach is: commitment for commitment.”

Conflicting accounts on shipping

Despite the Iranian move, US Central Command (CENTCOM) maintained that safe passage remained unhindered. In a statement, it said 55 merchant vessels had transited, carrying over 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins told The New York Times:

“Iran does not control the strait. Maritime traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure it stays that way.”

Vice President JD Vance expressed scepticism about reports of Iranian naval remnants turning back ships, saying he saw no evidence of such activity.

Roots in the temporary deal

The closure follows a 14-point tentative agreement signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday that reopened the strait and introduced sanctions waivers for Iranian oil sales. At a Thursday press conference in Evian, Trump said he acted to prevent an economic crisis.

“I didn’t want to allow an economic catastrophe. If this had gone on longer, it could have happened.”

The memorandum set a 60‑day window for nuclear negotiations. Bloomberg Economics’ Chris Kennedy noted that the 14 points give Tehran a strong negotiating position.

“The memorandum’s 14 points give Tehran a strong negotiating hand in the nuclear talks.”

Talks in limbo

Planned US-Iran negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland, on Friday never took place; the Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the cancellation. Vice President Vance’s departure from Andrews Air Force Base was called off at the last moment, with logistics cited as the official reason. Vance said that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were already in Switzerland working on “technical elements of negotiations” and that Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani negotiators could join as early as Sunday.

Economic and security uncertainty

A new layer of uncertainty was added by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which published a document stating that vessels must obtain a permit to pass and use a designated corridor along Iran’s coast, with mandatory insurance provided free of charge but with the possibility of future fees. Shipping firms and oil exporters warned that such fees could violate international maritime law and set a dangerous precedent. Despite the formal reopening, tanker bookings remain low, reflecting deep uncertainty over the durability of the 60‑day deal. The US military recommended that commercial ships use a corridor along Omani waters, especially while potential threats, including sea mines, are being cleared.