Confusing Situation

Iran Closes the Strait of Hormuz Despite U.S. Deal

The Israeli military attacked targets in Lebanon on Friday.(Bild: AFP/JALAA MAREY)

While the Israeli Army intends to continue operations in southern Lebanon, Israel’s ambassador announced that Israel would “resolutely” push for a ceasefire. And just a few days after the signing of the Iran deal, the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly closed again.

According to a high-ranking U.S. official, a ceasefire has been in effect between Israel and the Hezbollah militia since Friday afternoon. The Israeli military, however, disputes this: Attacks in Lebanon will continue, the military spokesperson said on Friday. Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, killed four Israeli soldiers in an attack, the spokesperson said, as reported by CNN.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he would prevent Israel from attacking Lebanon. “They have great respect for me and do what I say,” he told a reporter from the news site Axios. Israel remains “firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire,” said Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. “If Hezbollah abides by the agreement and ceases hostilities, it will be met with calm,” Leiter said on social media.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter(Bild: AFP/OLIVER CONTRERAS)

Hezbollah militia will pay a “very high price”
The Iranian-backed militia will pay a “very high price” for its attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier. To protect communities in northern Israel, the Israeli army will “remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary.” According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the Israeli military killed at least 47 people in Lebanon on Friday.

Earlier, Hezbollah had stated in a declaration to the Qatar-based television station Al-Araby TV that it would “observe the ceasefire if Israel observes it.”

The Iran deal was signed just a few days ago. The goal of the agreement is to negotiate a final treaty to end the war within 60 days. The deal explicitly stated that all hostilities in Lebanon would cease. In addition, the Strait of Hormuz, which had been blocked for months, was to be reopened.

Strait of Hormuz closed
However: The vital trade route remains closed, “since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as the complete lifting of the naval blockade and the withdrawal of U.S. terrorist troops from the Persian Gulf and the region, are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States,” ships were warned by radio by the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy.  

Attacks are threatened if ships approach
Freighters were instructed “for reasons of their safety and protection” not to approach the waterway. “Any ship that violates this order will be attacked,” stated the message broadcast on maritime frequencies near the waterway. There has been no official confirmation of this so far. 

The radio message is being shared on social media:

The Iranian Strait of Hormuz Authority (PGSA) stated on X that passage is only possible if a “compliant application” is submitted. It is not possible to independently verify which version is accurate. However, GPS data on the “Marinetraffic” website shows that many ships near the Strait of Hormuz are no longer moving. 

Vance Postponed Trip for Talks at the Last Minute
Talks between the U.S. and Iran were scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday—but U.S. Vice President JD Vance canceled his attendance at the last minute. A spokesperson explained that the logistical preparations for the negotiations with Iran had “never been easy or predictable.” The talks were therefore set to begin over the weekend.

On Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry also announced that the talks had been postponed. Nevertheless, the government is “continuing preparatory work” so that it can “facilitate” the talks at a later date.

Agreement Highly Controversial
The agreement is controversial in Europe and the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump, for example, faces criticism not only from the opposition but also from within his own Republican Party and right-wing media outlets. Many critics of the agreement object to the fact that Iran is set to receive billions in aid for reconstruction and has so far made no concessions regarding its missile program.