Friday June 19, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Iran has announced a fresh closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of failing to comply with the terms of a recently signed agreement and pointing to Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon.
The decision was disclosed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a statement broadcast through maritime radio channels on Friday, according to reports.
The IRGC said Washington had violated the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“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, Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, maintained that the strategic waterway should remain shut until Israel ends its military operations and withdraws completely from Lebanon. The agency also called for the cancellation of any future negotiations.
“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.
The latest development comes after Switzerland announced the postponement of follow-up talks that were expected to build on the agreement aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.
The accord, signed earlier this week, was designed to halt hostilities involving Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and initiate a 60-day negotiation process covering broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
The agreement was also expected to bring an end to fighting in Lebanon. However, Israel’s military reported carrying out fresh strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Friday.
As part of the arrangement, Iran was expected to receive a US-backed reconstruction package valued at $300 billion.
Meanwhile, President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, claimed the conflict had significantly weakened Iran.
He stated that the United States was not engaging Iran out of desperation and argued that Tehran was “finished” in the ongoing confrontation between the two countries.
Trump also said Washington would allow the 60-day negotiation window to proceed but ruled out any financial assistance for Iran, insisting that the United States would not provide “ten cents” in funding.
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