Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel’s breach of Lebanon truce; US insists shipping continues
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all vessels, blaming Israeli violations of a Lebanon ceasefire that was part of a 14-point US-Iran preliminary deal earlier this week. US Central Command countered that 55 merchant ships passed safely through the waterway the same day.
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:
Vice President JD Vance expressed scepticism about reports of Iranian naval remnants turning back ships, saying he saw no evidence of such activity.Iran does not control the strait. Maritime traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure it stays that way.
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.
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.I didn’t want to allow an economic catastrophe. If this had gone on longer, it could have happened.
The memorandum’s 14 points give Tehran a strong negotiating hand in the nuclear talks.
- Trump signs 14-point tentative US-Iran memorandum
- Trump holds press conference in Evian, says deal averted economic catastrophe
- Planned US-Iran talks in Buergenstock cancelled; Vance’s departure aborted
- IRGC closes Strait of Hormuz; CENTCOM says 55 ships transited normally
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.
