Iran has announced another closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the continued presence of United States forces in the region and Israel’s decision to keep troops in southern Lebanon.
According to the New York Post, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made the announcement in a statement broadcast through maritime radio channels on Friday.
The IRGC claimed that the US had failed to comply with the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The group said key parts of the agreement included Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete removal of the naval blockade, and the exit of American forces from the Persian Gulf and the wider region.
It stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut until those conditions are fully met.
“Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,” the IRGC said.
“All ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted.”
In a separate statement, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency said until Israel halts its actions and fully withdraws from Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed, and all future negotiations must be canceled.
“The continuation of Israeli crimes and the occupation of Lebanese land signify the death of the agreement, and this must not be tolerated or overlooked,” the Tasnim statement reads.
Earlier, Switzerland announced that planned talks following up on the deal to end the Middle East war had been postponed.
The signing of the accord this week was intended to end the conflict in Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a 60-day period for talks on wider issues, including Tehran’s nuclear programme.
At the same time, the deal was to halt the fighting in Lebanon, but Israel’s military announced on Friday new strikes against Hezbollah targets in the nation’s south.
Under the new agreement, Iran would also receive a reconstruction package worth $300 billion from the US.
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