Conflicting signals emerged from Iran on Friday regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz, with one Iranian military message warning of a renewed closure even as Tehran simultaneously promoted a 60-day transit fee waiver under its memorandum of understanding with Washington.

According to a broadcast attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) on maritime frequencies near the strait Friday morning, Iran warned all vessels not to attempt passage, citing Israel’s refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon and ongoing Israeli strikes there. The Panamanian-flagged container ship Muara, which departed from Hamad, Qatar, using the Iranian traffic separation scheme, was reported as the last non-Iranian-linked vessel to transit the strait outbound before the warning.

The broadcast stated that “Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American… forces from the Persian Gulf and the region” were among the core conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, and that the strait “will remain closed until these conditions are met.” It further warned that “all ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz,” with some reports indicating that vessels defying the directive would be targeted.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, pushed back on reports of a closure. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Friday that Iran has taken the necessary steps to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the strait in accordance with the memorandum of understanding ending the broader conflict, and that maritime traffic continues uninterrupted. Baqaei’s statement came in response to international media reports suggesting Iranian authorities were restricting passage.

Adding to the murky picture, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) announced separately on Friday that no transit fees will be charged on shipments through the strait for the next 60 days, with Tehran covering related safety and insurance costs that would otherwise fall on shipowners. Vessels are required to submit passage notices 48 hours in advance, and coordination of designated routes and scheduled passage times remains mandatory due to mine-affected areas in the strait.

The fee waiver follows the memorandum of understanding signed remotely Thursday by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aimed at ending hostilities between the two countries and reopening the strait, with a 60-day window set for further negotiations on a final settlement, including Iran’s nuclear program. Washington lifted its naval blockade on Iran following the signing.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points, carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas, and any disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway carries the potential to affect global energy markets.

Baqaei said negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program will take place within the 60-day window established by the agreement and will depend on Iran’s compliance with the accord’s terms. He said the current status of Iran’s nuclear program remains unchanged, and that the International Atomic Energy Agency will not inspect newly established facilities during the negotiation period. Any future changes to inspections or nuclear activities, he said, will depend on the progress of the talks.

Iran will also continue separate discussions with Oman regarding the long-term administration and maritime services of the strait, in consultation with other Persian Gulf states.

The conflicting reports out of Tehran on Friday underscore the volatility surrounding implementation of the new US-Iran agreement, even as both sides publicly affirm their commitment to its terms.