Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens as Iran declares closure again

Iran has announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz once again, citing the continued presence of United States forces in the region and Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, in a move that signals renewed escalation in already fragile Middle East tensions.

According to a report by the New York Post, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made the announcement on Friday through a statement broadcast on maritime radio channels, warning commercial vessels to stay clear of the vital shipping route.

The IRGC said the United States had violated the terms of a memorandum of understanding recently signed between Washington and Tehran, an agreement reportedly brokered earlier in the week between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The military body stated that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains conditional on key security and political demands, including the withdrawal of American forces from the region and Israel’s exit from southern Lebanon.

“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.

It further warned maritime operators against entering the waterway during the standoff.

“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,” the statement added.

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In a related declaration, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, said the continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon rendered the agreement effectively void.

It argued that until Israel halts its attacks and fully withdraws from Lebanese territory, the Strait of Hormuz should remain shut, and future diplomatic negotiations should be suspended.

“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 agency reported.

The announcement comes amid growing uncertainty over a recently signed agreement intended to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and initiate a 60-day negotiation period covering broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

The accord also aimed to end hostilities in Lebanon, although Israel’s military reportedly carried out fresh strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Friday, further complicating implementation of the deal.

Under the proposed framework, Iran was expected to receive a $300 billion reconstruction package from the United States as part of post-conflict stabilization efforts.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to developments in a post on Truth Social, stating that the conflict had significantly weakened Iran and rejecting claims that Washington was acting out of desperation.

He insisted that Iran was “finished” in the ongoing geopolitical standoff and confirmed that the United States would allow the agreed 60-day negotiation period to proceed.

Trump also ruled out further financial concessions, stating that the U.S. would not provide “ten cents” in funding to Tehran under any arrangement.