Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have instructed the military to halt operations in Lebanon, as per local reports. However, Israeli forces have not pulled back from their positions in southern Lebanon, as stated by Xinhua news agency. Iran has declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz once more, citing alleged violations of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the US and Israel.
Just after announcing the lifting of naval blockades, Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced the closure in response to what they term as violations by the US and Israel. This action is a result of the alleged breach of the first clause of the post-war MoU by the US and Israel, along with ongoing ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon, as reported by Iran’s Mehr news agency.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz to vessel traffic was declared by the headquarters due to the US’s breach of commitments regarding the MoU’s first article and Israel’s activities in Lebanon. The MoU, signed digitally by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on June 18, calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations between Iran, the US, and their allies, including in Lebanon.
Iran has introduced new regulations for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, mandating advance registration, permits, and insurance. These measures follow the earlier reopening of the waterway under a US-Iran agreement.
