The United States has countered a declaration by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to commercial maritime traffic.
Pinnacle Daily reports that Iran on Saturday, announced it was closing the vital shipping route again, claiming the U.S. and Israel have violated the ceasefire deal contained in a recently signed 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Tehran cited ongoing Israeli military operations and airstrikes in southern Lebanon as a direct violation of the deal’s core requirement to halt hostilities on all fronts.
The announcement of closure of the Strait triggers a high-stakes standoff that threatens the fragile peace agreement signed a few days ago.
However, the U.S. military swiftly countered the claim, asserting that the shipping lane remains fully operational under American and international oversight.
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz,” said Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), in an official statement released on Saturday.
“Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case,” Hawkins added.
According to CENTCOM, safe passage through the international waterway remained entirely intact on Saturday, with 55 merchant ships transiting the strait to deliver vital cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
Speaking on the matter, U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that there was “no proof” that Tehran had successfully implemented a blockade.
The friction over the shipping corridor intensified following renewed violence in Lebanon.
Air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed at least 16 people on Saturday, including a family of four in the village of Barish, hours after an the ceasefire was meant to take effect.
The interim U.S.-Iran MoU, signed earlier in the week by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, explicitly calls for a permanent termination of military operations across all regional fronts, including Lebanon.
However, Israel was not a signatory to the bilateral agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw from its established security zone in southern Lebanon until northern Israeli communities are entirely safe.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters called the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz a “first step” to compel compliance with the truce, warning shipping companies that entering the strait would put their security at “risk.”
A senior Hezbollah official reportedly stated that the waterway would not be formally cleared by Tehran until Israel publicly commits to a comprehensive ceasefire.
Fragile Peace Process under Threat
The escalating dispute comes at a critical moment for international diplomacy. Opening the Strait of Hormuz—the transit point for roughly one-fifth of the world’s energy products—has been a paramount economic priority for the Trump administration amid a prolonged global energy crisis. Under the 60-day interim deal, the U.S. lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports and granted immediate sanctions waivers for crude oil exports. In exchange, Iran was required to gradually reopen the Strait and enter broader technical negotiations regarding its nuclear programme.
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Despite the explosive rhetoric and ongoing trade of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah, the diplomatic tracks have not completely derailed. Iranian state media confirmed that Tehran’s negotiating team, led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, departed for scheduled technical talks with U.S. representatives in Switzerland.
Concurrently, President Trump sought to project confidence while issuing a stern warning to Tehran on social media, asserting that “NO TOLLS” would be tolerated during the 60-day window, but raising the prospect of the U.S. imposing its own steep transit fees on the region should the broader peace talks fail.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X