By Sabiu Abdullahi
Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the United States of violating a recent agreement signed between both countries.
According to reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, announced the decision through a statement broadcast on maritime radio channels on Friday. Iranian authorities linked the move to the continued presence of US forces in the region and Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon.
The IRGC claimed Washington failed to comply with conditions contained in 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.”
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, also issued a statement on the situation. The agency insisted that the waterway would remain shut until Israel ends its military actions and completely withdraws from Lebanon.
“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 came shortly after Switzerland confirmed that follow-up talks connected to the agreement had been postponed.
The deal signed earlier this week was expected to end the conflict involving Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a sixty-day negotiation process on broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
The agreement was also expected to stop hostilities in Lebanon. However, Israel’s military announced fresh strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Friday.
As part of the arrangement, Iran was expected to receive a reconstruction package valued at three hundred billion dollars from the United States.
Meanwhile, Trump reacted to the situation in a post on Truth Social. He argued that the conflict had weakened Iran and denied claims that Washington approached Tehran from a position of weakness.
The US president said Iran was “finished” in the ongoing dispute and stated that America would allow the sixty-day negotiation window to continue.
Trump also rejected the possibility of financial assistance for Tehran, saying the United States would not provide “ten cents” in funding.