TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iran announced on Saturday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz once again, citing Israel's continued military operations in Lebanon, a move that threatens to disrupt global energy shipments and complicate efforts to implement a recently signed interim agreement between Tehran and Washington.
The announcement came as the United States and Iran prepared to resume diplomatic negotiations in Switzerland aimed at advancing a framework agreement intended to end months of tensions and stabilize the region.
Iran's joint military command said the strategic waterway had been shut in response to ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy transit routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf.
The closure immediately drew attention from Washington. The US military said it remained on alert to ensure compliance with the interim agreement reached between the two countries.
"US forces remain present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect," US Central Command said in a statement.
The renewed closure follows a previous shutdown imposed by Tehran after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for Switzerland, where talks with Iranian officials are expected to focus on both Iran's nuclear program and the worsening security situation in Lebanon.
"I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue ... make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we're going to be focused on," Vance told reporters before leaving Joint Base Andrews.
The negotiations, brokered by Pakistan, are intended to implement a broader framework agreement designed to end the Iran conflict and restore stability to regional energy markets. Vance's trip had originally been scheduled for Friday but was delayed after Tehran initially suspended its participation due to Israel's continued military operations against Hezbollah.
As reported by international media and cited by DW, the talks are taking place amid escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah despite a renewed US-brokered ceasefire announced only a day earlier.
Israeli strikes over the past two days have killed around 100 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese officials. The Israeli military also reported the deaths of five soldiers during the fighting.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continued to rise on Saturday, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
"Hezbollah continues to constantly violate the ceasefire," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said in a statement posted on X.
Hezbollah rejected the accusation and instead blamed Israel for undermining the truce.
"Ongoing Israeli attacks are no longer just ceasefire agreement violations but represent clear aggression and a continuation of the war in every sense," the group said in a statement. Hezbollah added that Israel "has never adhered to ceasefire provisions."
According to details of the 14-point interim agreement, all parties are required to implement an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon."
The renewed fighting has raised concerns that efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah could unravel before negotiators make meaningful progress in Switzerland.
With the Strait of Hormuz once again closed and violence intensifying in Lebanon, diplomats face mounting pressure to preserve the fragile agreement and prevent a broader regional conflict from emerging.
Read: Trump Threatens to Strike Iran Again if Peace Deal Is Not Honored
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