Iran is effectively withdrawing from the ceasefire following the strikes on Lebanon
Iran has hardened its stance following Israel’s strikes on Lebanon. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced a complete halt to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by The Public, citing Isranews.
Tehran believes that Israel’s attack violated the terms of the ceasefire with the US. According to MarineTraffic, shipping traffic began to resume after the two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran came into effect.
The Iranian side claims that only two oil tankers and one Chinese naval vessel managed to pass through the strait. The state-run Fars news agency reported that Tehran has de facto blocked the strait again. Previously, Iran had planned to allow up to 10 vessels per day to pass through, charging a fee for passage.
At the same time, Tehran stated that extending the ceasefire makes no sense. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf noted that within less than a day, three of the ten points of Iran’s proposed plan to end the war had been violated.
He cited Israel’s large-scale attack on Lebanon as one of the key events, which resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people and injuries to over a thousand.
Washington and Jerusalem disagree with this assessment. They emphasise that Lebanon was not included in the terms of the agreements. US Vice-President J.D. Vance described the situation as a ‘justified misunderstanding’ and stated that the White House had not promised to extend the ceasefire to Lebanon.
According to him, Israel proposed a degree of self-restraint in Lebanon so as not to derail the negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key artery for global oil trade, and any disruption to traffic through it heightens tensions in global markets.
