Washington DC: Less than a day after Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Tehran has moved to close the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies and regional stability.
The development comes despite earlier commitments under the ceasefire framework, in which Iran had agreed to reopen the vital oil transit route. The move follows a sharp escalation in hostilities after Israeli forces carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Lebanon within minutes, according to media reports.
Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for Washington’s ceasefire initiative but clarified that it does not extend to Lebanon. In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said Israel backs the pause in strikes on Iran, provided Tehran reopens the waterway and halts attacks across the region.
However, he underscored that operations against Hezbollah would continue, noting that the ceasefire “does not include Lebanon.” Israeli strikes in the country have reportedly resulted in over 100 fatalities and hundreds of injuries, further intensifying tensions with Iran.
The United States reacted sharply to reports of the closure, calling it unacceptable. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington expects Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately, quickly and safely.”
“The president’s expectation is clear — the waterway must be reopened without delay,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
Earlier, Trump publicly backed Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon, emphasizing that Hezbollah was not part of the ceasefire arrangement. Speaking to PBS News, he said the exclusion was intentional.
“They were not included in the deal,” Trump said, referring to Hezbollah. He described the situation in Lebanon as a “separate skirmish,” signaling that Israeli operations there would proceed independently of the Iran ceasefire.
The closure of the Strait — through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes — threatens to disrupt global markets and complicates an already fragile diplomatic effort to de-escalate conflict in West Asia.
