TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed on Thursday that shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply and then stopped in what it said was a violation of Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon.
According to MarineTraffic’s ship tracking data, no vessels are currently known to be passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This follows earlier reports that traffic had begun to resume after a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran took effect on Tuesday.
Tehran’s accusations against Israel come as the White House insists Lebanon is not part of the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Lebanese authorities said on Wednesday that Israel had launched its largest attack on Lebanon, inflicting heavy casualties.
The Revolutionary Guards said one of the key provisions of the plan is Iran’s continued “wise management” of the Strait of Hormuz. The newspaper claimed that US President Donald Trump had accepted that the strait would remain “under Iranian control.”
Two oil tankers confirmed to be Iranian-owned passed through the strait early in the day, and a tanker from a Chinese fleet also passed safely, the statement said.
The Revolutionary Guards said there was no additional tanker traffic and “all shipping traffic” through the strait had been halted minutes after Israel launched what it called a major attack on Lebanon. Iran claimed that the attack violated the ceasefire agreement.
The Revolutionary Guards also announced that a ship that was scheduled to pass at 10 p.m. changed course near the strait and turned back.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters on Wednesday that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz “immediately, expeditiously and safely” after reports the strategic waterway was closed despite a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Any closure would be “completely unacceptable,” she said.
“We reiterate the President’s expectations and demands that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened quickly and safely.” -Government Agency
