Iran Says It Closed Strait of Hormuz Over Israel's Lebanon Strikes as US Threatens Toll

Iran announced on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel's ongoing attacks in Lebanon as the reason for the move. The Iranian joint military command said the closure was a response to what it described as a U.S. breach of commitments by failing to end the conflict, and warned that the interim agreement would be jeopardized if hostilities continued.

U.S. President Donald Trump responded on social media, stating that the United States could impose tolls on vessels transiting the strait if a final deal with Iran is not concluded within 60 days, adding that the revenue would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.”

Technical-level negotiations between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland, with Pakistani and Qatari mediators also involved. U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Saturday evening, joining Iranian delegators that include parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior oil and central-bank officials. The interim agreement calls for the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets and a 60-day toll-free period for shipping.

U.S. Central Command said that Iranian claims of control over the strait were inaccurate, noting that 55 merchant vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil passed through the waterway on Saturday and that U.S. forces were monitoring traffic.

The broader conflict has seen at least 16 people killed in recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, including civilians, and five Israeli soldiers reported dead in the same period. Hezbollah officials indicated they would consider a ceasefire if Israel publicly committed to a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon.

Negotiators are working on technical details of a nuclear agreement, with a 60-day window to reach a final deal, though extensions remain possible. The United States has lifted a blockade on Iranian ports, allowing Tehran to sell oil, a move that has prompted debate in Congress.

Both sides of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict have reported continued hostilities, with Israeli forces conducting strikes in multiple Lebanese villages and Hezbollah launching projectiles toward Israeli positions. The fighting persists despite statements from Israeli officials that a ceasefire could be possible if Hezbollah halts attacks.

The situation adds uncertainty to global oil markets as the strait remains a critical chokepoint for international shipping.