Strait of Hormuz closed over ceasefire violations, says Iran
Iran’s top military command has said it will shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by the US and Israel.
The command said the crucial shipping passage will be closed to vessel traffic as the “first response” to alleged breaches of the deal, Reuters has reported.
The military command said the closure comes in response to Israel’s continued attacks in southern Lebanon, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Iran’s military command cited a “violation” of the first clause of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in a bid to end the war.
This clause refers to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
Iran warns of ‘subsequent steps’
A statement broadcast on state television by Iran’s military warned that “if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned”.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group was supposed to take effect at 2pm UK time on Friday.
Israel has launched strikes against multiple locations in the south of Lebanon, according to the country’s state news agency.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that these strikes came in response to Hezbollah launching more than 50 projectiles at soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.
The IDF said it “remains committed” to the ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah but “will continue to operate to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel and IDF soldiers”.
Israel has insisted that it will continue to occupy southern Lebanon.
Vance says strait not closed
US vice president JD Vance told Fox News earlier on Saturday that there is no evidence that Tehran is closing the Strait of Hormuz.
He said that talks with Iran were going well, adding that he was confident that the ceasefire could be maintained.
Peace talks in Switzerland between the US and Iran are due to continue, the Swiss foreign ministry said on Saturday, according to Reuters.
Friday’s discussions were abruptly called off after Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and Israel carried out a wave of retaliatory strikes in south Lebanon which killed at least 18 people.