Iran says it is closing the Strait of Hormuz and accuses the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, after Israel continued strikes on Lebanon.
A US Central Command spokesperson says ‘traffic continues to flow’ in the strait, with US forces ‘monitoring the situation’, according to several media outlets – why is the strait so important?Donald Trump insists there will be no tolls in the strait, unless imposed by the US in the event a broader deal cannot be reached with Iran.
It comes as Israel and Hezbollah have both accused each other of violating a new ceasefire.
The conflict raises questions about the future of a permanent US-Iran deal, writes Hugo Bachega in BeirutTalks between Iran and the US are set to take place in Switzerland on Sunday – an Iranian delegation has arrived in the country, while JD Vance is currently on his way.
Speaking to reporters before boarding his flight, the US vice-president said he hoped to make progress on ‘the nuclear issue’ and the ‘Lebanon ceasefire issue’.
Iranian state media says the country’s delegation, led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is there to follow up on the implementation of the existing deal – not to begin the second phase of negotiations.
