The Iranian military has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz again following the ceasefire deal with the United States, accusing Israel of repeated violations in Lebanon.
In a statement carried by the official Iranian news agency IRIB, Iran’s highest joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said: “In view of the bad faith of the United States and its obvious breach of its commitments by not implementing the first article of the memorandum ending the war. »
The command added: “In response to the continued and continued violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon…Hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of ships. »
According to CNNThe Islamic Republic also accused the United States of failing to comply with the first clause of the agreement in principle. The first clause of the agreement in principle is as follows: “The immediate and definitive cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. »
Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah continued to trade blows after the attempted peace deal between the United States and Iran. New Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 16 people in Lebanon.
It comes after US Vice President JD Vance said the flow of oil through the main maritime trade route had reached pre-war levels.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said: “Security of passage on the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, carrying large quantities of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. »
He added that U.S. forces will ensure that the Iran deal is “respected and kept in full force.”
The 14-point interim ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, as reported by BBC:
- The immediate and definitive cessation 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 “undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, renewable by mutual agreement”.
- Immediately, the United States will “begin lifting its naval blockade…and will completely end the naval blockade within 30 days.”
- In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran “will do its best to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge, for 60 days.”
- The United States commits “with its regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan of at least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of” Iran.
- US to ‘end all types of sanctions against’ Iran
- Iran “reaffirms that it will not acquire or develop nuclear weapons,” but other parts of the program still need to be negotiated. The two sides “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 signature, and until the end of the sanctions, the US Treasury “will grant waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, as well as all associated services”.
- US commits to ‘making fully available frozen or restricted funds and assets’ of Iran
- “An executive mechanism will be put in place to monitor the successful implementation” of this memorandum
- After signing – subject to the implementation of points 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 – the United States and Iran “will enter into negotiations regarding the final agreement exclusively on the remaining paragraphs.”
- “The final agreement will be approved by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council”
The Pakistani mediator announced that peace talks would take place in Switzerland tomorrow, June 21, 2026.
Iran and the United States have confirmed their participation in peace talks.
