Iran Reimposes Closure of Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced on Saturday that it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, accusing the United States of violating key commitments under a recently signed agreement aimed at ending hostilities and restoring regional stability.

In a statement, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational command center of Iran's armed forces, said the decision was taken in response to what it described as Washington's "explicit breach of its commitments" and failure to implement the first provision of the war-ending understanding reached earlier this week.

The Iranian military command also cited what it called ongoing violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon by Israel, describing the incidents as a contributing factor behind the decision to suspend navigation through one of the world's most strategically important waterways.

"Given the United States' clear failure to honor its obligations and its violation of the agreement, as well as the continued and repeated breaches of the ceasefire by the Zionist entity in southern Lebanon, we announce that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime navigation," the statement said.

The move comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding remotely on Wednesday night. The agreement included provisions to halt military hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports.

Under the framework, the parties were expected to enter negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. Key issues on the agenda included Iran's nuclear program and broader regional security arrangements.

The renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to heighten concerns across global energy markets, as the narrow waterway serves as a critical transit route for a significant share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the corridor could have far-reaching implications for global trade and energy supplies.