{"id":1939,"date":"2026-06-19T14:34:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanitystories.pics\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2026-06-19T14:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:34:21","slug":"iran-declares-the-strait-of-hormuz-closed-again-after-us-lifts-blockade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/humanitystories.pics\/?p=1939","title":{"rendered":"Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed again after US lifts blockade"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\n

WASHINGTON \u2014\u00a0Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz Friday instead of\u00a0heading\u00a0to Switzerland\u00a0for\u00a0nuclear negotiations, citing\u00a0Israel\u2019s refusal to\u00a0pull forces out of southern\u00a0Lebanon<\/a>\u00a0and US forces\u2019 ongoing presence in the region.<\/p>\n

In a statement read over maritime radio channels, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\u00a0(IRGC)\u00a0said the US was in violation of the memorandum of understanding between\u00a0Washington and Tehran, which President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Israel\u2019s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,\u201d it said. \u201cAll ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Illustration5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>
An image shows traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of June 19, 2026.MarineTraffic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"Iranian5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian displays a memorandum of understanding after signing it in Tehran on June 18,
\n2026.Iranian Presidency via ZUMA Press \/ SplashNews.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

US Central Command said Thursday it had\u00a0formally lifted its two-month blockade on Iranian ports<\/a>. It was not immediately clear what\u00a0the IRGC\u00a0meant by the embargo removal not being \u201ccomplete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shortly after the IRGC announcement, a US official claimed Israel and Hezbollah had reached a cease-fire agreement, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming Thursday that the Jewish state\u2019s forces would continue hunting terrorists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will restore security and prosperity to northern towns,\u201d\u00a0Netanyahu said. \u201cThat requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n