Iran has announced a new closure of the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the United States of failing to comply with the memorandum of understanding recently reached between both countries.
According to Iranian authorities, Washington has failed to prevent the continuation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, a situation that Tehran considers a violation of the preliminary agreement reached to reduce regional tension.
The announcement comes at a time of great volatility in the Middle East. According to the statement released by official Iranian media, the closure of the maritime passage responds to the continuity of Israeli bombings and the Israel’s refusal to withdraw from certain areas of southern Lebanonor, circumstances that, according to Tehran, make it unfeasible to keep one of the main energy corridors on the planet open.
Iran blames US for not enforcing deal
Iranian authorities maintain that the first point of the memorandum signed with the United States contemplated the cessation of military operations related to the conflict in Lebanon. However, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have continued in recent days, with new attacks and fatalities, leading Tehran to denounce a “flagrant non-compliance“of the understanding reached.
The memorandum, according to publicly known documents, also included commitments to advance diplomatic negotiations, reduce tensions and facilitate the normalization of maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route through which a very important part of the world’s hydrocarbon trade circulates.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical point for the world economy
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean and constitutes one of the most sensitive energy routes on the planet. Any interruption in maritime traffic can affect international markets and cause strong movements in oil and gas prices.
After learning of the Iranian announcement, different specialized media indicated that doubts persist about the effective scope of the closure and its practical application, while the United States continues to bet on a diplomatic solution and claims to closely monitor the situation in the area.
For the moment, the upsurge in violence in southern Lebanon and the accusations crossed between Tehran, Washington and Israel once again put at risk the fragile de-escalation process that began days ago and add uncertainty to the stability of a key region for global energy supply.
