Iran declares closure of Strait of Hormuz after alleged MOU breach
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters announced it will close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the U.S. of violating a memorandum of understanding meant to halt the war.
On June 20, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced it would close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating a memorandum of understanding intended to end the war.
The headquarters framed the action as retaliation for an alleged failure to comply with the MOU’s first clause, which it cited as calling for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other.” The memorandum the Iranian authorities referenced was described as signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The announcement followed a large Israeli air campaign in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces reported striking at least 80 targets it linked to Hezbollah and reported dozens of militant fatalities. Lebanese authorities reported 47 civilians killed and 97 wounded in the strikes.
U.S. Central Command disputed Iran’s account of conditions at sea, reporting that commercial ship traffic increased on June 20 while U.S. forces continued operations in the area to support freedom of navigation. CENTCOM noted that “safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.”
There was no independent confirmation that the strait had been closed or that shipping had been interrupted. Reports on June 20 indicated no physical actions to block the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20% of global oil shipments. After earlier announcements of a ceasefire framework, West Texas Intermediate traded near $77 a barrel and Brent near $80. Bitcoin rose above $66,000. Market participants and analysts warned that a renewed closure of the strait would push benchmark oil prices higher and could affect risk assets.
The announcement drew renewed attention to regional maritime security and to how quickly markets could react if transit through the strait were disrupted.
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