Iran announced Saturday that it is closing the Strait of Hormuz, citing breaches of a newly agreed ceasefire after Israel carried out deadly strikes in southern Lebanon overnight. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned commercial vessels not to approach the waterway, saying their safety would be at risk if they attempted to enter.
Iran’s top joint military command described the move as a “first step” in response to what it called violations by the United States and Israel, according to state-linked media. The declaration comes after a U.S.-Iran interim peace deal signed earlier this week had committed Tehran to reopen the strait to shipping.
U.S. Central Command, in a statement on social media, did not acknowledge the closure but said 55 merchant ships transited the strait on Saturday, carrying large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. CENTCOM added that U.S. forces remain “present and vigilant” to ensure compliance with the agreement.
The announcement followed renewed Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon that Lebanese authorities said killed at least 16 people early Saturday, including two children. A previous round of strikes on Friday had killed 83 people, Lebanon’s health ministry reported. Local media said air and drone strikes hit the towns of Arabsalim and Deir al-Zahrani, among others, and Lebanese officials said at least seven people were trapped under rubble; the Lebanese army also reported one soldier killed in the south.
The Israel Defense Forces said Hezbollah had breached the ceasefire by firing more than 50 projectiles toward IDF troops in southern Lebanon and that Israel struck Hezbollah targets in response. Hezbollah denied the claim, saying it had adhered to the ceasefire and accused Israel of fabricating pretexts to justify attacks and undermine the U.S.-Iran agreement.
The strikes and Iran’s shipping warning have put intense pressure on fragile U.S.-Iran diplomacy. The interim deal envisioned an end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, and Iranian officials have warned they view Israeli strikes as violations of the arrangement even though Israel was not a direct party to the accord.
U.S. envoys, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were in Switzerland working on technical elements of the talks, Vice President J.D. Vance said, and Vance expected to join them in the coming days. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said technical-level talks with U.S. and Iranian representatives, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, would take place Sunday. Iranian spokesmen said the mission aims to demand fulfillment of the other side’s obligations before negotiations on a final agreement begin. Iran’s delegation is expected to be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to state TV.
U.S. intelligence assessments, officials say, expect Israel may continue operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a prospect that could further strain the interim arrangement. The continuing strikes have also exacerbated tensions between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who have criticized the deal and pushed for more forceful action in Lebanon. Analysts note Netanyahu faces political pressure ahead of an October election and needs support from the far right.
Maritime and shipping experts had hoped the signed deal would allow vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf to resume passage through Hormuz, but they cautioned that normal traffic could take weeks to return because of the need to clear mines and other hazards. For its part, the Israel Defense Forces said it would continue operations in southern Lebanon to protect Israeli civilians.
The situation remains fluid: Iran’s closure declaration raises immediate risks for commercial shipping and could complicate upcoming negotiations, while continuing exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanese militants threaten to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at broader de-escalation.