Iran’s military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates —
Iran’s joint military command said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and U.S. “bad faith” and “its clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war.
The statement on state television also warned that “if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned.”
Ships had begun transiting the strait after the interim U.S.-Iran agreement was signed earlier in the week.
Iranian state television said the country’s negotiating team is going to Switzerland for talks with the United States over their interim deal on the war.
The broadcaster cited a foreign ministry spokesperson in its report Saturday. The trip was originally planned for Friday but was canceled.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagahei told state TV that “Any memorandum or agreement is ultimately tested when it enters the implementation phase.”
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, including two children, hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement. The persistent fighting threatened an interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East.
Mediators were scrambling to halt the fighting between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group, after a heavy exchange on Friday killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers.
An Israeli military official said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting the military to start targeting the militant group there. The official spoke anonymously in line with regulations. The army said it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets and militants in southern Lebanon, including rocket-launching positions and Hezbollah command centers.
On Friday, Israeli ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, said on X that Israel “remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire” if Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases hostilities.
On Saturday, Hezbollah said it had committed to the ceasefire but blamed Israel for violating it several times on Friday night. A statement issued by the group’s military wing said it would abide by the ceasefire but would also repel attacks by Israeli troops.