The Iranian government announced Wednesday morning the Strait of Hormuz was again closed, not even a day after the nation accepted a ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel. Iran said Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon violated the agreement.
Iranian media agency Fars reported that the government allowed two tankers to leave the Strait “after obtaining permission from Iran,” NBC News reported. However, further passages were halted because of Israel’s strikes inside Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces said Wednesday’s attacks were some of the heaviest leveled against the country’s northern neighbor.
Israeli and U.S. officials said the ceasefire does not apply to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, which they said are meant to target the militant group Hezbollah. However, this contradicts Pakistani Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was a key mediator in the agreement, and the plan reported on by Iranian state media.
The White House has yet to comment on the recent development. However, the reclosure of the Strait would be a major setback for the administration’s ceasefire deal.
This is a developing story, and more information will be added as it becomes available.