Iran’s military on Saturday declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz fully closed to all maritime traffic over alleged US and Israeli breaches of a ceasefire memorandum, though US Vice President JD Vance and military officials stated there was no evidence of a shutdown as emergency talks loomed in Switzerland.
The Iranian Navy and the Supreme Joint Military Command announced the total closure of the vital shipping lane in statements carried by Iranian media, warning commercial vessels to stay away from the area. The military stated that the action was taken in response to continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon and what it characterised as a breach of ceasefire commitments by the United States. “The strait is fully closed, and ships must not approach it, otherwise their security will be at risk,” the navy statement said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the alleged violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon had put the entirety of Tehran’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Washington in serious jeopardy. Baghaei explained that the first clause of the MoU explicitly stipulates the termination of warfare across all fronts, including Lebanon, describing it as the core pillar of their mutual obligations.
According to Baghaei, while Iran had strictly adhered to its commitments, the opposing party failed to compel Israel to maintain the ceasefire in south Lebanon. He warned that despite initial progress regarding the lifting of the naval blockade and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the memorandum remains a single, indivisible package. Baghaei asserted that a violation of the first clause effectively calls the entire agreement into question, warning of serious structural problems for the understanding unless immediate corrective measures are taken by the other side.
US Vice President JD Vance downplayed the Iranian announcements, telling Fox News in an interview that there was no evidence to suggest Iran had successfully blocked the waterway. Vance affirmed that Washington intends to provide an opportunity for diplomatic negotiations, confirming that senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were already on the ground in Switzerland to conduct talks regarding Iran. Vance added that he expects to travel to Switzerland within the next two days, noting that “things are going well in Iran talks” ahead of potential meetings scheduled for Sunday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) supported this assessment, reporting via social media platform X that maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz had actually increased on Saturday. CENTCOM stated that US forces continued operations in the region to support the freedom of navigation, ensuring that safe passage through the international waterway remained entirely uninterrupted. According to the military command, 55 commercial vessels successfully transited the strait on Saturday, delivering large volumes of consumer goods and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
CENTCOM noted that the Joint Maritime Information Centre had issued specific guidance earlier this week confirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route, free from arbitrary demands or obstructions. The command emphasised that US forces remain active and vigilant in the area to guarantee strict compliance with all terms of the active agreement with Iran.
The diplomatic effort to preserve the understanding is shifting rapidly to Europe, with the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announcing that a technical-level round of talks between the US and Iranian delegations will be held in Switzerland on Sunday. Mediators from both Pakistan and Qatar are scheduled to participate in the proceedings. The ministry stated that Pakistan is facilitating the process in its capacity as a mediator to advance the understandings previously established under the framework of the MoU. Baghaei confirmed to Iranian television that the Iranian negotiating team was departing for Switzerland.
The maritime escalation follows heavy fighting on the ground in Lebanon, where Hezbollah accused Israel of fabricating “false allegations” to justify violating a ceasefire agreement that it claimed the Israeli military had never genuinely respected. The Lebanese group stated that it had remained committed to the truce since Friday evening despite immediate Israeli infractions. However, Hezbollah claimed its fighters intercepted an Israeli infantry force attempting to infiltrate toward the Ali al-Taher hill, an area it said Israel has repeatedly sought to occupy. Hezbollah reported that it targeted the advancing troops with appropriate weaponry, inflicting confirmed deaths and injuries, adding that while it remains committed to the ceasefire, it will not tolerate any attempts to seize land or expand the occupation.
