Iran ‘closes’ Strait of Hormuz after accusing US of ceasefire violations

Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz is ‘closed’ and accused the United States of violating ceasefire agreements.

Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz is ‘closed’ and accused the United States of violating ceasefire agreements.

The country said on Saturday that ships must seek permission to use the waterway and raised the prospect of future charges for passing through it.

It accused the US of a breach in the ceasefire agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon – the end of which was a requirement of the peace deal made by the two countries.

Last week, it emerged that Israel is holding its own separate negotiations with the US because it wants to keep the IDF in Lebanon.

Israel is not part of the US-Iran deal and has vowed to continue attacking Hezbollah after the military group targeted northern Israel.

Ending Tehran’s stranglehold on the sea route, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices, had also been a key demand in negotiations.

The deal to end the nearly four-month war between the US and Iran only guaranteed safe, toll-free passage of the strait for 60 days, however, pending the outcome of a final settlement on Tehran’s nuclear plans.

Now, Tehran has said ships are unable to pass through the Strait due to the alleged breach.

The uncertainty has led many ships to be confused over where it’s safe to travel and the proper procedures for passage, Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at the Baltic and International Maritime Council, told CNN.

Speaking at a White House briefing on Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance said international waterways ‘should be free of tolls’.

‘The final negotiations can set the terms of what comes afterwards,’ he said.

‘I keep coming back to this fundamental structural point of this negotiation, which is that we have all the cards.’