Iran re-closes strait of Hormuz, halts nuclear talks over Lebanon, US Forces presence

The Strait of Hormuz was re-closed on Friday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it would suspend compliance with a recently signed US-Iran understanding and block the strategic waterway until key conditions are met.

According to the IRGC, the decision followed Israel’s refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon and the continued presence of US forces in the Persian Gulf region, which it described as violations of a memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the week.

In a maritime radio broadcast statement, the IRGC insisted that the reopening of the strait, the lifting of naval blockades, and the withdrawal of US forces were core conditions of the agreement. It warned that vessels should avoid the waterway, adding that non-compliant ships could be targeted.

The development comes despite reports of continued commercial shipping activity through the strait and confirmation from US Central Command that its two-month naval blockade on Iranian ports had been lifted.

The US-Iran agreement, signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, had aimed to ease tensions and pave the way for nuclear negotiations in Switzerland. However, scheduled talks were postponed following renewed military and diplomatic friction in the region.

Iran accused the United States of failing to fully implement its obligations under the deal, particularly regarding phased withdrawal arrangements and regional security provisions tied to Israel’s operations in Lebanon.

The IRGC further argued that ambiguities in the agreement allowed for continued justification of the closure, while introducing new maritime restrictions through Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which now requires vessels to obtain transit permits.

The situation has heightened global concern over energy security, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for a significant share of global oil and gas exports.

Diplomatic efforts to salvage the agreement remain uncertain, with both sides maintaining firm positions amid escalating tensions involving Israel, Hezbollah, and regional military deployments.

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