Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA
Iran said on Saturday it would again close the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route due to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which it considers a violation of its agreement with the United States to end war in the Middle East.
Just hours after the United States announced a new ceasefire in the fighting in Lebanon, Israeli troops were involved in clashes with Hezbollah fighterswhile Israeli fighter planes launched deadly attacks in the south of the country.
The hostilities, which continued on the ground, had already placed under pressure the agreement signed this week by the North American President, Donald Trumpand by its Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkianto wage regional war in all fronts, including the Lebanese front — a central requirement of Tehran.
Invoking a “breach of contract” by the US and the “continuous and relentless violation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon by the Zionist regime”, Iran’s central military command announced this Saturday “that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime traffic”.
“It is announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime traffic. This first step is a response to the enemy’s violation of commitments,” said the Central General Staff Khatam-al Anbiya in a statement broadcast on Iranian state television IRIB.
The strait, a essential route for the transport of oil and gas, It was blocked by Iran for much of the war, which shook global energy markets.
Under the preliminary agreement with the US, Iran had agreed to reopen the passage, and maritime traffic had begun to recover in recent days.
New rounds of negotiations between Washington and Tehran were scheduled for Friday, in Switzerland, but they were after Israel launched a wave of deadly attacks in Lebanonfollowing the death of four Israeli soldiers in combat.
On Friday afternoon, an American official announced a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, mediated by the US and Qatar. Israel’s ambassador to Washington stated that the country would respect the truceas long as the Hezbollah did so too.
On Saturday, however, an Israeli military official said that Israel was carrying out new attacks against the Iranian-backed movementaccusing him of having “launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon” during the night.
Hezbollah claimed that Israel had carried out, “under the cover of the ceasefire… a infiltration attempt towards the hills of Ali Taher“, a strategic elevation overlooking the city of Nabatieh. The movement added that its fighters “the faced with the appropriate weapons“.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli airstrikes against around 20 sites. Lebanese Civil Protection said 16 people died in the Nabatieh area, where an AFP photographer saw fire.one to rise over the city after the attacks.
Hezbollah deputy Hassan Fadlallah he stated on Saturday that his group “has every right to confront this enemy when he attacks us.”
An Israeli military official quoted by public broadcaster Kan described in a similar way Israel’s position regarding the trucesaying that it is based on the principle that “respond to fire with fire“.
