Iran closes Hormuz Strait over US-Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon: State media

TEHRAN – 20 June 2026: Iran plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway handling roughly fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply, to maritime traffic, over Israeli strikes in Lebanon, state media reported on Saturday.

The Khatam Al-Anbiya military command accused the United States and Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, citing breaches of commitments under the ceasefire with regard to Lebanon.

The Khatam Al-Anbiya command described the move as an initial response and warned that additional actions would follow if aggression persisted.

Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, including two children, threatening the recently signed US-Iran agreement aimed at ending hostilities “on all fronts.”

The memorandum of understanding, signed by the presidents of the US and Iran, includes restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and energy exports.

The first provision calls for the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon."

Khatam Al-Anbiya cited Israeli "continuous and relentless" violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, which have resulted in "the killing and displacement of hundreds of thousands of innocent people," as well as the Israeli forces' continued troop presence in the Lebanese territory.