The United States has rejected Iranian claims that its military closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying there is no evidence of a closure and that commercial ship traffic through the waterway has actually increased.
Iran announced on Saturday that its military had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for what it calls a “blatant breach” of a recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding by the United States and Israel. Iran’s top joint military command ordered the closure and warned that no ships or vessels should approach the waterway.
US Vice President JD Vance disputed the closure during an interview with Fox News on Saturday, stating that there is no evidence Iran closed the Strait. US Central Command released a statement shortly after Iran’s announcement, confirming that commercial ship traffic through the strait increased on June 20.
“CCommercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased June 20 as US forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation,” CENTCOM said in a post on X/Twitter.
Iran’s closure order came after Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, which killed at least 18 people and injured more than 30 others. Tehran says the US is failing to fulfill its pledge to rein in the Israeli military and stop aggression against Lebanese territories.
Iran’s Joint Military Headquarters issued three messages, blaming the US for failing to fulfill obligations under the MoU to end the war, demanding Israel stop its aggression and withdraw forces, and warning that the closure is just an initial step with further measures possible if Israel continues its acts of aggression.
The dispute has added tension to ongoing diplomatic talks in Switzerland between Iran and the United States. Negotiators are discussing frozen assets, primary and secondary sanctions, oil exports, and war reparations.
Iran is using its control over the strait as leverage in these negotiations. Trump’s favored mediators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are already in Switzerland, and Vice President Vance expects to join them soon.
Despite the latest development, planned negotiations in Switzerland are still likely to go ahead.
US officials have stated that Iran has neither mined the waterway nor conducted continuous patrols there. US military officials say the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic.
The US recorded 16 million barrels of oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz the previous day, a record going back to before the conflict started.
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The United States has rejected Iranian claims that its military closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying there is no evidence of a closure and that commercial ship traffic through the waterway has actually increased. Iran announced on Saturday that its military had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for what it calls a "blatant breach" of a recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding by the United States and Israel. Iran's top joint military command ordered the closure and warned that no ships or vessels should approach the waterway. US Vice President JD Vance disputed the closure during an interview with Fox News on Saturday, stating that there is no evidence Iran closed the Strait. US Central Command released a statement shortly after Iran's announcement, confirming that commercial ship traffic through the strait increased on June 20. "CCommercial ship […]
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