Iran has announced the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States and Israel of violating a recently agreed ceasefire arrangement, reports International media.
The move comes amid continued Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, where at least 32 people have reportedly been killed since dawn.
According to Iranian media reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the closure was a response to what it described as Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon and the failure of the US and Israel to uphold commitments under a 14-point memorandum of understanding reached earlier this week.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would participate in talks scheduled to be held in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21 with the aim of pressing the United States to fulfil its obligations under the agreement.
“Negotiations for a final agreement will begin only when the commitments set out in paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 have started to be implemented and continue to be carried out,” Baghaei said, adding that Iran does not believe those conditions have yet been met, reports BBC.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that US and Iranian representatives will attend the Switzerland talks, alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar. The discussions are intended to advance understandings reached in the 14-point accord.
The announcement came shortly after reports of the Strait of Hormuz closure, although US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had seen no evidence that maritime traffic through the key shipping route had been halted and expressed confidence that the ceasefire framework would hold.
