Iran’s Joint Staff of the Armed Forces issued an official statement on Saturday saying the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic shipping and trade routes, will be completely closed to vessel traffic. The dramatic announcement came just hours after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance tried to calm global markets, saying there were no signs on the ground that Iran was moving to block the strait.
Tehran said the step was a direct response to what it called “America’s blatant violation of the agreement.” Iranian officials accused the White House of failing to enforce the first clause of the memorandum of understanding ending the war, which Tehran says concerns “the ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon.”
In its statement, Iran explicitly referred to continued Israeli Air Force strikes in Lebanon and the fact that Israel has not fully withdrawn its forces from the country. The Iranian leadership also warned that this was only the first move and that further action could follow if the fighting continues.
At the same time, the Iran-aligned UNEWS network, citing Iranian sources, reported a direct military threat against the Israeli home front. According to that report, “If the aggression against Lebanon continues, Iranian missiles may be launched tonight at Israel.” The article says negotiations are still ongoing.
