Iran announced on Saturday that it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, accusing the United States and Israel of violating key provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed to end the recent war.
In a statement, the Central Headquarters of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Armed Forces said the decision was taken in response to “the United States’ clear breach of its commitments by failing to implement the first provision of the ceasefire memorandum, as well as Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.”
The statement declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to maritime navigation until further notice, raising renewed concerns over global energy supplies through one of the world’s most strategic shipping routes.
The announcement came three days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remotely signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict. Under the agreement, both sides committed to negotiating a final settlement within 60 days, with the possibility of an extension by mutual consent.
The Iranian move coincided with continued Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon that reportedly caused casualties despite Israel’s announcement of a ceasefire.
Diplomatic efforts continued in parallel, with Pakistan’s Interior Minister arriving in Tehran as part of Islamabad’s mediation initiative between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, Axios reported that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to travel to Switzerland for a new round of talks.
President Trump warned that if negotiations fail, the United States would do “things that will not make them happy,” while also stating that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had reached unprecedented levels following the signing of the memorandum.
Separately, Israel’s ambassador to Washington said Israeli offensive operations in Lebanon had ceased at 11:30 a.m. Washington time. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also discussed the latest regional developments during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global oil and gas exports.
