
A general view shows rubble from buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes along the waterfront in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
Iran’s joint military command said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and US “bad faith” and “its clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war. The statement on state television also warned that “if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned.” Ships had begun transiting the strait after the interim US-Iran agreement was signed earlier in the week.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people, including two children, hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement. The persistent fighting threatened an interim agreement between the US and Iran to end the war in the Middle East.
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Switzerland talks delayed as diplomacy stalls
The continuing violence has already disrupted the next phase of diplomacy. Planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland were postponed after Iranian officials insisted that fighting in Lebanon must stop before negotiations could proceed, while US Vice President JD Vance also delayed his planned visit. The interim agreement signed earlier this week reopened the Strait of Hormuz and launched a 60-day negotiating process on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and broader regional security issues. However, neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the accord, and both sides remain divided over the future of southern Lebanon.
Ceasefire faces first major test
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until all threats against Israel are eliminated, while Hezbollah maintains it will not halt attacks unless Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory. Meanwhile, Iran is preparing to lodge a complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions imposed on its World Cup team in the United States. With the Lebanon ceasefire still fragile and nuclear negotiations delayed, the coming days are expected to test whether the US-Iran agreement can evolve into a lasting peace deal or faces its first major setback.
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