Iran announced this Saturday that it would once again “close” the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon, without however breaking off discussions with a view to a final agreement on the end of the conflict in the Middle East which are due to begin in Switzerland on Sunday.
The central command of the Iranian army announced that “the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime traffic”, a “first measure in response to the violation of commitments by the enemy”. He threatened “further measures” if necessary “to force the enemy to respect its obligations” contracted in the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday.
The situation in Lebanon at the origin of new tensions
In a first reaction, the American command for the Middle East (Centcom) indicated that its forces remained “vigilant”. According to Centcom, crossings of the Strait of Hormuz continued safely this Saturday, with the passage of 55 merchant ships.
At the start of the war, Iran blocked this sea route through which some 20% of the world’s hydrocarbons previously transited, causing a surge in oil prices and shortages. Its reopening constituted one of the key points of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding, which provides for an end to hostilities in all theaters, including in Lebanon, Tehran having insisted on this last element.
But despite this text, and a new ceasefire announcement on Friday, Israel and the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah have been clashing for two days in the south of the Cedar country, where Israeli operations left at least 24 dead on Saturday, and 83 the day before. Israel, which occupies part of the south, said it was targeting Hezbollah positions in retaliation for attacks against its troops.
Technical discussions on the agreement maintained
“While committed to the ceasefire, [le Hezbollah] will show no tolerance towards any Israeli attempt […] to extend its occupation,” the movement affirmed in a press release. He accused Israel of being “totally responsible” for violations of the truce. The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, assured Friday that Israel was committed to respecting the ceasefire, provided that Hezbollah did the same.
At the same time, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that “technical” discussions would be held on Sunday in Switzerland between Iranians and Americans, in the presence of representatives of Qatar and Pakistan, mediator countries. Islamabad confirmed the holding of these “technical talks” on Sunday in Bürgenstock near Lake Lucerne.
The memorandum of understanding provides for the launch of negotiations lasting sixty days with a view to reaching a final agreement, which will be centered on the Iranian nuclear program. “Preparatory” discussions even began this Saturday between diplomats, according to Berne. The spokesperson for Iranian diplomacy, Esmaïl Baghaï, nevertheless warned the United States on Saturday that the initial protocol would be “in danger” if its provisions were not applied quickly, another allusion to the situation in Lebanon.
/2026/06/20/6a36542abef9b803070208.jpg "War in the Middle East: why the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States does not compare with the Vienna agreement")
