Iran claims to shut Hormuz Strait over Lebanon
Sydney (21 June)
Iran claims to have closed the Strait of Hormuz for all ships in response to the Israeli occupation and bombing of parts of Lebanon, putting its initial peace deal with the US at risk.
“This is a first step as a response to the enemy’s breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken,” the Iranian Consulate-General in Hyderabad said late on 20 June, in a social media post.
The US Central Command (Centcom) has rejected Iran’s claims. Commercial ships continue to move through the Strait of Hormuz, Centcom said in a statement early on 21 June. But no ships appeared to pass through the Strait later in the day, according to signalling data from MarineTraffic.
“[Iran] and the United States of America, and their allies in the current war … declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” the two nations agreed in an initial peace deal on 18 June.
But the Israeli Government plans to occupy parts of Lebanon indefinitely. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) will remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, without any time limit, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told Israeli news outlets on 15 June.
There is no restriction on IDF soldiers operating to remove threats in Lebanon, Katz told outlets late on 21 April.
Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon have angered the Trump Administration over the last week. “Israel’s fighting Hezbollah too long and too many people are being killed,” US President Donald Trump said on 17 June. “You don’t have to knock down an apartment [block] every time you’re looking for somebody,” Trump added.
By Avinash Govind