Iran says Hormuz Strait closed over Israel attacks on Lebanon

Iran's central military command announced on Saturday that it had once again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz over Israel's attacks on southern Lebanon, describing them as a breach of Tehran's agreement with the US.

"It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations," said the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters in a statement carried by state TV.

Earlier, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were both headed to Switzerland for the first round of talks, US website Axios reported, as a new renewed ceasefire in Lebanon is under threat after latest Israeli attack killed five people.

Israel and Hezbollah had earlier agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday after escalating fighting cast doubt over US-Iran talks critical to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilising oil supplies.

That followed a 14-point memorandum the two sides signed this week to halt fighting and open a 60-day window to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as other thorny issues needed to forge a more durable deal.

US Vice-President JD Vance cancelled plans on Thursday to travel to Switzerland for the talks, however, amid rising tension in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Witkoff is now heading to Switzerland to join Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who is already there, Axios said. Araghchi plans to travel there on Saturday, it added. The development may signal that both sides intend to begin technical negotiations aimed at securing a permanent truce. 

According to AFP, US envoy Steve Witkoff was headed to Switzerland for talks, American media outlets reported Friday, after scheduled negotiations due to take place there between the United States and Iran were postponed.
Witkoff was on his way to the alpine nation on Friday, Axios said, citing an unnamed US official. His trip comes as Washington and Iran work to get technical talks following up on an initial peace deal "back on track," CNN said.

Trump's envoy Jared Kushner was also expected to be in Switzerland for talks, CNN said, citing a US official. Axios said he was already there. It was not immediately clear whether Witkoff would hold meetings with any Iranian officials.

The US-Iran talks scheduled for Friday were intended to build on the deal to end the Middle East war and work towards a lasting settlement. No new date for the negotiations has been announced.

The war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Five dead in fresh Israeli strikes on south Lebanon

Lebanese official media said fresh Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday killed five people, despite a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group announced a day earlier.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli airstrikes on more than a dozen south Lebanon locations after midnight and into Saturday morning, saying three people were killed in strikes on the town of Arab Salim, while one person was killed in Deir Zahrani, and another after "an enemy drone launched a strike on a motorbike" at the entrance of the town of Dweir.–Agencies

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