The Iranian military has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz again following the ceasefire agreement with the United States (US), accusing Israel of repeated violations in Lebanon.
In a statement issued by Iran’s state-run news agency IRIB, Iran’s Supreme Joint Military Command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said: “In light of the US’s bad faith and its clear breach of its obligations by failing to implement the first article of the memorandum ending the war.”
The command added: “In response to the continued and ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon… It hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels.”
According to CNNThe Islamic Republic also accused the United States of not complying with the first clause of the interim agreement. The reported first clause of the tentative agreement is: “Immediate and permanent suspension of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have continued to trade blows following the tentative peace deal between the US and Iran. Israel’s renewed airstrikes kill at least 16 people in Lebanon.
This comes after US Vice President JD Vance stated that the flow of oil through the main maritime trade route had reached pre-war levels.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated: “Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships sailed in transit, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.”
It added that US forces will ensure that the deal with Iran is “respected, obeyed in full force and effect.”
The interim 14-point ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran as reported by BBC:
- Immediate and permanent suspension of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon
- The United States and Iran must “respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs
- They “commit to negotiate and reach the final agreement in a maximum of 60 days, which may be extended by mutual consent
- Immediately, the United States will “begin the removal of its naval blockade… and will completely end the naval blockade within 30 days
- In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will “make best-effort arrangements for the safe passage of commercial vessels at no cost for 60 days
- The United States commits “with regional partners to develop a final, mutually agreed upon plan of at least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of” Iran
- The US will “lift all types of sanctions against” Iran
- Iran “affirms that it will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons,” but other parts of the program remain to be negotiated. The two parties “agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed issues related to the nuclear needs of the Islamic Republic of Iran”
- Pending final deal, US and Iran ‘agree to maintain status quo’
- Upon signing and until the end of the sanctions, the US Treasury Department will “issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives and all related services
- The US commits to “making Iran’s frozen or restricted funds and assets fully available for use”.
- “An executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation” of this memorandum
- After the signing – subject to the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 – the US and Iran will “begin negotiations on the final agreement exclusively on the other paragraphs”
- “The final agreement will be approved by a binding resolution of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council)”
The mediator Pakistan has announced that peace talks will be held in Switzerland tomorrow, June 21, 2026.
Both Iran and the US have confirmed their participation in the peace talks.
