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Hormuz closure amid Lebanon strikes
Iran said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, citing ceasefire violations after Israel continued deadly strikes in southern Lebanon overnight.
“Trump says 'no tolls' in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, warns of possible US fees later US president suggests potential charges for 'services' as 'guardian angel' if final agreement with Iran not reached Yasin Gungor 20 June 2026•Update: 20 June 2026 ISTANBUL US President Donald Trump said Saturday that no maritime fees will be permitted in the Strait of Hormuz during the current 60-day ceasefire, warning that Washington may impose its own tolls thereafter”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned ships not to approach the waterway, and Iran’s top joint military command said the closure was the “first step” in response to breaches of commitments by the U.S. and Israel.
U.S. Central Command disputed the claim, saying 55 merchant ships transited the strait on Saturday, “moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.”
Israeli strikes earlier Saturday killed at least 16 people, including two children, according to Lebanese civil defense and media, and Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said a previous wave of strikes on Friday killed 83 people.
The dispute unfolded as Iran and the U.S. prepared for technical-level talks in Switzerland, with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing “technical-level talks” will take place Sunday with U.S. and Iranian representatives joined by mediators from Qatar and Pakistan.
Trump toll threat and competing claims
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose U.S. tolls in the waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached within 60 days, while the current agreement establishes toll-free travel through the strait for 60 days.
Trump’s threat was framed as payment for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East,” and he also said the money would be imposed if the final agreement is not reached within the 60-day window.
Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed because of the U.S. “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war, and Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency said the closure was the “first step” in response to breaches by the U.S. and Israel.
The U.S. denied Iran’s closure claim, with Capt. Tim Hawkins telling Reuters that “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz,” and that “Traffic continues to flow.”
As negotiations loomed, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the situation in Lebanon had “calmed down,” while he said he expected progress on the nuclear issue and the Lebanon ceasefire issue.
What’s at stake for talks
The NBC News report said the continued military bombardment has threatened to derail the fragile U.S. peace talks with Iran, with Iran warning it would consider Israeli strikes a violation of the terms of the interim peace deal signed this week.
Iran’s spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, told Iranian media the trip was a “mission to demand the fulfillment of the other side’s obligations,” adding that “negotiations for a final agreement” will begin when such obligations are implemented.
The PBS report said the interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts, and that if key commitments are not upheld, “the memorandum of understanding as a whole will be jeopardized.”
Euronews reported that maritime traffic monitoring showed cargo vessels continued traversing the strait unhindered, even as Iran’s IRGC Navy announced it had closed the crucial waterway again.
With the talks scheduled to begin Sunday in Switzerland, the stakes for the interim framework were clear in the competing narratives: Iran said it would not reopen the strait until Israel announces a “comprehensive ceasefire” in Lebanon, while the U.S. said it was monitoring to ensure the strait remained open.
