By Opeyemi Adelakun
Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz once again, accusing the United States of violating the terms of a recently signed agreement and citing continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) through maritime radio channels, according to reports monitored from the region.
The IRGC said the United States failed to meet key conditions outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week between US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
According to the statement, the agreement required the lifting of the naval blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the Gulf region, and a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Iran said these conditions had not been fulfilled.
The IRGC therefore declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until compliance is achieved, warning that vessels attempting to enter the waterway would be targeted.
The statement also warned all ships to stay away from the strategic passage for safety reasons, stressing that defiance would not be tolerated.
Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reinforced the position, arguing that continued Israeli operations in Lebanon render the agreement invalid and should halt any further negotiations.
The development follows earlier Swiss-led efforts to stabilize the conflict, which included plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and establish a 60-day negotiation window on broader regional issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors, and renewed closure is expected to heighten global concerns over energy supply and maritime security.
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