Iran’s latest threat to close the Strait of Hormuz has underscored growing concerns in Washington that Tehran is using one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes as leverage in its negotiations with the United States.
On Shabbos, Iran announced it was closing the strategic waterway, claiming the move was in response to what it called American violations of this week’s memorandum of understanding, as well as Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon.
According to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the agreement required a ceasefire “on all fronts,” and Tehran accused Washington of failing to force Israel to halt its operations against Hezbollah.
Despite the announcement, U.S. officials insisted that the strait remained fully operational.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that commercial shipping continued uninterrupted. According to the Pentagon, 55 commercial vessels transited the strait on Shabbos, transporting more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
The Iranian announcement came just hours before a high-level delegation departed for Switzerland to resume negotiations with American officials.
The Iranian team is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi along with senior officials from Iran’s defense establishment, central bank, and energy sector.
Iranian officials stressed they were not traveling to negotiate a permanent agreement but rather to demand that Washington fulfill what Tehran says are its commitments under the memorandum of understanding.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials sought to project confidence that diplomacy remains on track.
Vice President JD Vance said he has seen no evidence that the Strait of Hormuz has actually been closed and confirmed that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are already in Switzerland preparing for renewed talks. Vance added that he expects to join the negotiations in the coming days.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)