Iran Says It Will Close Strait of Hormuz After Lebanon Ceasefire Violations

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, part of the Revolutionary Guards, announced on Saturday afternoon that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to shipping. The statement said the move was a response to what Tehran called violations of the agreements by the United States and Israel, including failure to implement understandings to end the war and continued military activity in southern Lebanon. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that if some of the other side’s commitments are not carried out, “the overall understanding will be in trouble.”

The Revolutionary Guards described the closure as a “first step” and warned that if the attacks continue, Tehran will consider additional measures against “the enemy.” On Friday, Iran had already published new procedures for vessels transiting the strait, requiring passage requests to be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. It also said that no transit fees would be collected for ships during the next 60 days.

At the same time, reports from Lebanon said more than 40 people had been killed and more than 100 wounded in strikes since midnight. The Iranian news agency Fars, citing the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said an Iranian delegation would travel to Switzerland to advance contacts and monitor implementation of the other side’s commitments.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered with mediation by the United States and Qatar and with Iranian assistance, took effect on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Israel said that even with the ceasefire in place, the IDF would continue to operate in the security zone in southern Lebanon to remove threats and would respond to any violation. Within less than an hour of the truce taking effect, sirens sounded in Zarit over a suspected drone intrusion. The IDF later said two suspicious aerial targets were identified, but the incident ended without unusual findings or casualties.