Fresh concerns about global energy supplies as Iran again ‘closes’ Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi, June 20: Creating fresh concerns regarding the global energy supplies, Iran again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on Saturday even as preparations are underway for the direct talks between the Persian nation and the United States in Switzerland tomorrow.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued fresh warning to ships today not to approach the Strait of Hormuz, saying it has been “closed again because the US did not keep its commitment” regarding the peace deal.
The IRGC, in a radio message aired in the Strait, referred to the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon to highlight the provocation for its action.
The IRGC warned that vessels would be at risk if they approached the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said the US had failed to implement the first clause of its 14-point interim deal, which includes a ceasefire “on all fronts”, including Lebanon.
The interim deal was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Mokhber said as long as the agreement was only on paper, the flow of energy would remain halted.
This came as Israel carried out fresh attacks on Lebanon that killed 20 people on Saturday.
Israel, left out of the talks, says it is not party to the Iran-U.S. deal, and will keep its forces in the Lebanese territory it occupies.
On the other hand, US Central Command said 55 merchant ships had transited the Strait on Saturday, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
The Strait of Hormuz accounts for transition of nearly one-fifth of global energy.
Meanwhile, a high-level Iranian team, led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, is slated to be in Switzerland on Sunday for direct talks with US Vice President JD Vance, according to the Iranian media.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran, at the talks, would press for fulfillment of commitments by the US.
He reminded that the US has not honoured its agreements earlier.
Vance, in an interview with Fox News, said he was confident the ceasefire agreed in Washington’s 14-point deal with Tehran would hold, and that he had not seen evidence that the Strait was closed.
“I expect that I will leave sometime in the next couple of days, but you know it’s always a delicate coordination dance and the diplomatic protocols,” Vance said.
He added that U.S. negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had been in Switzerland “for a few hours, dealing with some of the technical elements of this negotiation”.
“My understanding, talking to Jared and Steve this morning, is things are going well,” he added.
