Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. The Khatam al-Anbiya command said the decision came after what it described as U.S. violations of its commitments and Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. It also warned that vessels approaching the area would be in danger.
The announcement came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke about talks expected on Sunday involving Iran, the United States, Pakistan and Qatar. In an interview with Fox News, he said he planned to join Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Switzerland and expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold. Discussing Lebanon, he said, “We are trying to advance peace in Lebanon for our Christian friends in the country. Sometimes rockets are launched from Lebanon, and Israel of course defends itself.”
Vance also dismissed an Iranian report that the Iranian navy had begun diverting ships around Hormuz. “I am skeptical about that report. We moved 16 million barrels through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours,” he said. An American official told CNN that Vance is expected to fly to Switzerland later on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said the Iranian delegation will arrive in Switzerland demanding that Washington honor its commitments. If the commitments are not enforced, he warned, the understandings reached so far could be undermined. The Iranian delegation is expected to be led by parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to arrive. Witkoff is already en route to Switzerland for the first round of nuclear talks, and if the meetings take place they could open negotiations on a permanent agreement. The Lebanon ceasefire is considered a key part of the memorandum of understanding reached by the United States and Iran, and Tehran said Washington would be responsible for any violation of those commitments, including fighting in Lebanon.
