Iran announces Strait of Hormuz closure in response to alleged ceasefire violations in Lebanon

Iran's military commanders announced on Saturday that the country will close the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that Israel has violated the ceasefire between Iran and the United States that began earlier this week. 

“In view of the United States’ bad faith and its clear breach of its commitments by failing to implement the first article of the memorandum ending the war, and in response to the continuous and ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon… It hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels,” Iran’s joint military command, ​Khatam al-Anbiya Central ‌Headquarters, said in a statement, according to CNN. 

Both Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy and U.S.-designated terrorist group, are trading accusations of ceasefire violations as the two sides continue to launch attacks against one another in Lebanon on Saturday, Just the News reported. 

The agreement between the United States and Iran to pause the war included a provision which called for a ceasefire on all fronts, which includes the Israeli conflict against Hezbollah. However, Israeli officials have asserted that they are not bound by the terms of the U.S.-Iran MOU, which the country did not sign. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed shortly after the United States announced the agreement that his country would not withdraw from Lebanon as a buffer against Hezbollah, regardless of what terms the U.S. agreed upon with Tehran, Just the News previously reported. 

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has already proven a sticking point in the ongoing negotiations to end the U.S.-Iran war. On Friday, Iran abruptly called off talks with the U.S. in Switzerland after alleged ceasefire violations in Lebanon, prompting the U.S. to rush to secure another ceasefire there.