Iran’s top joint military command announced on state television Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all vessel traffic. The military command, operating through the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that the closure applies to all shipping, including commercial vessels and oil tankers, and warned that any ships attempting to pass through the waterway will be targeted.

Reason for Closure

The broadcast explicitly cited recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon as the primary reason for the shutdown. Iranian state media framed the decision as a direct reaction to what they described as violations of regional peace efforts. The military command’s official statement accused the United States of “bad faith” and “its clear breach of its commitments” by failing to bring a halt to the ongoing warfare.

This development follows renewed violence in southern Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 16 people on Saturday morning, hours after preliminary reports of a ceasefire agreement had surfaced. The military command warned on air that this closure is merely an initial response, stating that “if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned.”

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.