Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Over Israeli Strikes in Lebanon; U.S. Disputes Closure
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, 2026, citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon as a breach of a ceasefire agreement. The U.S. military reported that ships continued to pass through the strait, contradicting Iran’s claim. Talks between Iran and the U.S. on an interim deal to end the war are set to begin in Switzerland amid escalating tensions.
Where Sources Diverge
The U.S. military reported that ships were still passing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the closure, while Iran claimed the strait was closed.
The U.S. military says traffic is still flowing.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again.
Timelines
Sources
JD Vance says talks aim to ‘make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue’ Middle East crisis – live updates Talks between Iran and the US aimed at building out the fragile interim deal to end the war are due to get under way in Switzerland, beset by difficulties including an Iranian decision to keep the strait of Hormuz closed in protest at Donald Trump’s inability to force Israel to end the fighting in Lebanon. The US vice-president, JD Vance, leading the US delegation, said he was adding Lebanon to the agenda, which had originally been conceived to focus on the opening of the strait, the lifting of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held overseas. Continue reading...
Ahead of negotiations in Switzerland, The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has said vessels should not approach the strait of Hormuz else their security would be at risk. Iran shut the shipping lane on Saturday, saying that Israeli strikes in Lebanon constituted a breach of the preliminary ceasefire, agreed between the US and Israel on Wednesday. Iranian and American delegations are set to meet in Switzerland on Sunday to work out their interim agreement to end the war. Story by Caroline Baum and Camille Corcoran.
Officials from the United States and Iran have begun talks to shore up an interim deal to end the war. Follow DW for more.
A new round of negotiations over the Middle East war is due to begin, with Iranian negotiators arriving in Switzerland hours ahead of US Vice President JD Vance, even as Tehran said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again over Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also left for Switzerland
Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again. The U.S. military says traffic is still flowing. NPR's Jane Arraf reports from Beirut.
Iran said Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, while warning that upcoming talks with the United States in Switzerland are unlikely to advance unless the fighting stops. President Donald Trump countered by threatening U.S.-imposed tolls on shipping through the strategic waterway if a final agreement is not reached within 60 days.
Iran said Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon are a breach of Tehran's agreement with the US to end the war.
Iran dealt two quick blows to the interim agreement with the United States on Saturday, angered by Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon, saying it had closed the Strait of Hormuz and announcing that while its negotiators were going to Switzerland for talks, not much is likely to happen there. Key mediator Pakistan, meanwhile, said the technical-level talks will begin on Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, with Qatari mediators also taking part. In Tehran’s first salvo, Iran’s joint military...
Iran has closed the strait of Hormuz – citing alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement by the US and Israel. Tehran said the closure was the "first step" in response to what it described as breaches of commitments regarding the continuing clashes in Lebanon - and warned that further measures would be taken if "aggression" continued. Details and analysis by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani, and FRANCE 24 correspondent in Tehran, Reza Sayah.
Iran’s top joint military command warned that further measures would be taken if “aggression” continued
It comes after Israel carried out a wave of fresh strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday morning.
Before the closure, ships seeking passage through the strait while the interim agreement remained in force were required to submit transit requests at least 48 hours before arrival. Meanwhile, United States vice president JD Vance said he was confident the ceasefire could hold, adding that there was no evidence Iran was closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's joint military command said the strait had been closed due to Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran's negotiators are heading to Switzerland for Iran-US talks on their interim deal. DW has more.
Iran's joint military command said the strait had been closed due to Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran's negotiators are heading to Switzerland for Iran-US talks on their interim deal. DW has more.