Iranian state media reported that a high-ranking Iranian delegation arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the U.S. as Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said on X that vessels transiting the strait would not face any toll charges during the ceasefire period or after it ends.
Iran makes its move amid negotiations
Iran has once again moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, just two days after announcing a new permit system for vessels using the crucial Middle East waterway.
Even though the U.S. and Iran agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negotiations take place, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. The decision could disrupt efforts to advance a Pakistan-brokered interim agreement signed on Wednesday by Trump and Pezeshkian to end their nearly four-month old war. Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of violating the June 17th Memorandum of Understanding. Iran says Israel violated the ceasefire by continuing to attack targets in South Lebanon.
The move was presented as the first phase of Iran’s response, with authorities indicating that more steps may be taken if the conflict continues.
Mehr News Agency reported that the strait of Hormuz was closed to all vessels and that ships were advised not to approach because their security would be at risk.
Ships have remained cautious and skeptical of any Hormuz reopening even before the latest Iranian move
Even before Iran announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz was again closed, ship operators had pulled back from transiting the critical waterway.Â
According to Kpler, 25 ships traveled through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. However, tanker traffic fell back to single digits on Friday after the first round of U.S.-Iran talks to work out the details of their agreement was canceled.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to resume the war with Iran on Sunday, even as Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials for the first negotiations under an interim peace deal, which were overshadowed by Iran’s announcement that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz.
An estimated 500 ships, including about 220 oil tankers, have been unable to leave the Persian Gulf since the conflict began. It seems like it will take months for maritime traffic and oil flows to normalize.
What comes next
The latest developments leave the ceasefire in a fragile position. While both the U.S. and Iran have signaled a willingness to continue negotiations, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has added pressure to talks. With hundreds of vessels still trapped in the Persian Gulf and many more avoiding the strait, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the interim agreement can hold or whether the region moves closer to renewed conflict.
