Less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two‑week ceasefire with Iran, Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the Associated Press reported. The move comes despite an earlier agreement tied to the ceasefire in which Iran had agreed to re‑open the strait — a passage crucial to global oil shipments — raising immediate concerns about possible disruption to energy and shipping routes.
The U.S. and Iran announced the two‑week ceasefire early Wednesday, with officials saying the arrangement included Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which could help restore strained global energy supplies. Iranian authorities, however, moved to close the waterway after renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon, framing the closure as a direct response to those operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly endorsed the U.S. decision but stressed the deal did not extend to Lebanon. On X, he wrote, “Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region.” In a separate post he added, “The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shares by the US, Israel and Israel’s regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.”
Fighting in Lebanon has continued even as the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was announced. Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon have, the report says, killed 89 people and wounded 722, a toll that has prompted strong protests from Iran and helped drive Tehran’s decision to shutter the strait.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz marks a sharp escalation that could complicate diplomatic efforts and unsettle global markets that rely on the route for a significant share of oil exports. With negotiations and further talks — referenced by Netanyahu — now expected, the situation remains fluid and closely watched by regional and international stakeholders.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-iran-war-us-iran-ceasefire-donald-trump-iran-closes-strait-of-hormuz-in-response-to-israeli-strikes-on-lebanon-11330466#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-04-08 22:39:00
