Iran's top joint military command has ordered that the Strait of Hormuz be closed in retaliation for what it claims is a “blatant breach” of the recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, according to Iranian semi-official state-sponsored media outlet Mehr on Saturday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warned that vessels should not approach the strait or else their security is at risk, according to Iranian semi-official state media outlet Fars News Agency.
US Vice President JD Vance disputed the closure during an interview with Fox News on Saturday, stating that there is no evidence that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Mehr report, Iran's military stated that the closure is also in response to continued Israeli operations against Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.
According to Mehr, Iran’s military declared the closure of the strait as the “first step” in its response and stated that if the US and Israel continue to act in a manner it deems as breaching the agreement, “further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to fulfill its obligations.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted that the US is “obligated” to force Israel to stop all action against Hezbollah, according to Fars.
The spokesperson added that if the US does not honor the commitments outlined in the MoU and does not take measures to uphold the deal as soon as possible, the status agreement may be in danger.
Iranian delegation to demand implementation of MoU during Switzerland talks
According to an Axios report, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that a delegation of Iranian officials will travel to Switzerland on Saturday for US-Iran technical talks that are set to begin on Sunday.
Baghaei stated that during the talks, Iran will “follow up on and demand the implementation of the other side's commitments” regarding the MoU.
According to a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the talks will be attended by delegations of American and Iranian officials and will be facilitated by mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
An advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a statement on X/Twitter asserting that Iran’s negotiators “will not be satisfied without the full implementation of commitments.”
He added that while the MoU remains on paper, the flow of oil and trade through the Strait of Hormuz will be halted until the deal's terms are fulfilled because the US “understands the language of economics and cost-benefit better.”
US CENTCOM claims traffic through Strait of Hormuz increasing
US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement shortly after Iran announced the closure of the strait, asserting that commercial ship traffic through the waterway increased on Saturday.
“Commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased June 20 as US forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation,” CENTCOM stated in a post on X/Twitter.
They added that US forces remain present in the Strait of Hormuz to “ ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.”
No tolls on the Strait of Hormuz except from the US, Trump says
Later, US President Donald Trump announced that there would be no tolls on the Strait of Hormuz during the 60 day negotiation period, adding that there would also be no tolls afterwards "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America."
