Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz again as Israeli strikes in Lebanon threaten fragile US-Iran truce

Tehran, June 20: Iran on Saturday announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon and what it described as a "blatant violation" by the United States of commitments under a ceasefire agreement, in a move that risks reigniting regional tensions and disrupting global energy markets.

The closure marks a sharp reversal from a recent US-Iran arrangement under which Tehran had agreed to waive planned transit fees for vessels passing through the strategic waterway during a 60-day negotiation period established under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the three-month conflict between the two countries.

"Due to the blatant breach and violation by the United States of the first clause of the ceasefire agreement, and in response to the continuous and relentless violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon, the merciless killing and displacement of hundreds of thousands of oppressed people of this land, and also considering the failure of the Zionist occupying forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, it is declared that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic," the statement said.

The military command described the closure as only the "first step" in Iran's response and warned of further measures if hostilities continued.

"It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations," the statement added.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy subsequently warned vessels against approaching the Strait of Hormuz, saying their security could not be guaranteed. Prior to the closure, ships seeking passage through the waterway under the interim agreement were required to submit transit requests at least 48 hours before arrival.

The development comes only days after US President Donald Trump announced what he described as a landmark agreement with Tehran aimed at ending a three-month war that had already sent oil prices soaring amid fears over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 per cent of global energy exports pass.

Israeli strikes intensify

At the centre of the dispute is Lebanon, where Iran has demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces as a condition for ending the conflict. Israel, however, has refused to withdraw and has continued strikes against Hezbollah positions, placing increasing strain on the fragile US-Iran understanding.

Although Israel and Hezbollah agreed on Friday to halt attacks following a strike that killed 18 people, violence resumed almost immediately. Israeli forces launched another attack on a village near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on Saturday, killing at least seven people.

Lebanon's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon killed 16 people on Saturday. Other reports placed the death toll from recent Israeli attacks at more than 20, with at least 26 people reported killed overall.

The latest escalation follows a heavy exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah that reportedly killed 47 people in southern Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers.

Late on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that, acting on his orders, the Israeli military had "struck powerfully" against 150 Hezbollah targets and killed dozens of militants.

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the armed forces had received no new instructions from the government and would continue operating in what he described as a "forward defence zone".

Hours after officials briefed journalists on the ceasefire, artillery fire could still be heard from northern Israel along the Lebanese border, while large explosions were reported inside Lebanon.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the group retained the right to respond to continued Israeli attacks.

Diplomatic efforts under pressure

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has added further uncertainty to efforts aimed at securing a lasting settlement between Washington and Tehran.

US vice president J D Vance said on Saturday that he expected to travel to Switzerland soon for talks with Iranian officials. Speaking to Fox News, Vance expressed confidence that the ceasefire outlined in Washington's 14-point agreement with Tehran would hold despite the latest tensions.

He also said he had seen no evidence that Iran had actually closed the Strait of Hormuz.

The remarks came after negotiations scheduled between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were postponed on Friday, with no revised date announced. The talks were intended to lay the groundwork for a broader settlement to the regional conflict and begin a 60-day negotiating period covering unresolved issues not addressed in the initial agreement, particularly Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.

According to US media reports, special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Switzerland in an effort to revive the talks, while President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was also expected to participate.

The conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement remains the most fragile component of the wider US-Iran arrangement. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the agreement, despite its stated aim of ending hostilities across the region.

Iran has signalled that it is prepared to risk renewed confrontation to defend its interests in Lebanon, while Israel has continued military operations despite the diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran.

Trump has increasingly portrayed himself as the central figure preventing a broader Middle East war. He has argued that Israel would have been "eviscerated" without American support and has suggested that Washington must occasionally restrain the actions of Netanyahu. The US president has also reportedly expressed frustration over Israel's continued military campaign, allegedly describing the Israeli leader as "crazy" during a telephone conversation earlier this month.

With fighting continuing in Lebanon, diplomatic talks delayed and one of the world's most critical shipping routes once again at the centre of the crisis, the future of the fragile US-Iran truce remains deeply uncertain.