Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said last week that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was flowing under Iranian monitoring.
"The armed forces of Iran, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding [MOU] to end the war dated June 18, 2026, have taken the necessary measures to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping in this route is currently underway," Baghaei stated. The announcement was intended to clarify the status of the waterway, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments [1].
The clarification came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) broadcast a warning over maritime radio channels that the strait was closed, citing alleged U.S. violations of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on June 17 between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian [2].
The IRGC statement said the strait would remain closed until conditions, including Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and the complete lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, were met. The conflicting messages created confusion among commercial vessels and oil tankers in the region, many of which had been waiting for clear guidance before transiting the chokepoint.
Background of the Memorandum of Understanding
The 14-point MOU that was signed on June 17 promised that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports [4].
On June 17, U.S. Central Command said it had formally lifted the two-month blockade, according to a statement. The deal, which also called for a halt to hostilities and respect for Lebanon’s territory, was described by the Trump administration as "performance-based," with Iran benefiting only as it complies [4].
Oil markets reacted positively, with Brent crude prices falling sharply as the prospect of renewed shipping flows reduced supply concerns [5].
The IRGC’s radio message set out additional demands beyond the MOU text. It stated that "since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement … the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met." The statement warned that any vessel that defied the directive would be targeted [18].
The language reflected a harder line than that taken by the civilian government and raised questions about which faction in Tehran controls the strait. The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint for decades; during the Iran-Iraq war and subsequent crises, its closure has been used as leverage [6].
Internal Divisions in Iran
The differing messages from the Foreign Ministry and the IRGC underscored a long-running power struggle between Iran’s elected government and the hardline military corps that opposed the truce. American and regional sources have cited internal strife as a significant reason for why it took roughly two months of negotiations to finalize the MOU [2].
Some IRGC members argued that Tehran should wait to sign the agreement until Israel fully withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon, according to a regional source quoted by the New York Post [18].
The IRGC’s radio broadcast effectively attempted to override the Foreign Ministry’s announcement, projecting an image of continued defiance even as the government signaled compliance.
The internal split mirrors broader debates within Iran’s leadership about the country’s strategic direction following the U.S.-Israeli military campaign that began in late February [7]. The IRGC, which suffered significant losses in the war, has sought to retain influence by controlling access to the strait.
Historically, Iran has viewed the waterway as both a defensive chokepoint and an economic lever [8]. The conflict has also accelerated the efforts by Gulf states to build pipeline alternatives that bypass the strait, a trend noted by analysts [9].
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about the IRGC’s closure claim, telling Fox News he was "skeptical of that reporting" [10].
Expert Analysis and Reactions
Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former White House National Security Council official, said the ordeal demonstrated the need for the U.S. to remain firm during the next 60 days of negotiations. "It’s going to be important at every step of the way to ensure we respond forcefully to every attempt by the Iranians to pull back, jerk us around, or shake us down for more," Goldberg warned [18].
"There is a fine line between strategic patience and prudent strategy versus getting sucked into an extortion racket. And we should proceed to ensure we are pursuing the former and not the latter," added Goldberg.
The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Simcha Brodsky, president of the open-source intelligence organization OSINT613, said the IRGC broadcast exploited the phased nature of the U.S. blockade lift. "What we’re seeing is a direct result of the wording in the US-Iran [MOU]. The deal lifts the U.S. blockade in phases ('fully within 30 days'), so the U.S. is mid-process by design," Brodsky said.
"Iran is using that gap: It says the strait stays closed until the blockade is 'completely lifted,' so it can claim the lift isn’t done and call this a re-closure," added Brodsky.
Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, warned that Tehran will continue to use the strait as leverage regardless of which faction prevails. "They have found the strait can be held hostage, that they can do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it,” Sabti advised [2].
Sabti also warned that in the future, Tehran can open the strait, but they can also "close it every day if they want."
Implications and Ongoing Uncertainty
The Foreign Ministry’s announcement came hours after the first round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled for June 19, was postponed without a public explanation from Washington. The postponement added to the uncertainty surrounding the interim agreement, which had already been jarred by the IRGC’s radio broadcast.
Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) issued a set of terms and conditions for vessels transiting the waterway, including a requirement to obtain a permit at least 48 hours in advance [11]. The document stated that Tehran would waive fees for the 60-day negotiation period but reserved the right to introduce charges in the future [12].
U.S. Central Command confirmed that U.S. forces are monitoring the strait to ensure it remains open, and that traffic continued to flow despite the IRGC warning [13].
Energy Secretary Chris Wright later reported that 72 ships transited the waterway in a single day, signaling a gradual return toward normal levels [14].
However, Oman and the International Maritime Organization have begun planning evacuation routes for the hundreds of vessels still stranded inside the Persian Gulf, and Oman has opened temporary toll-free shipping lanes to facilitate safe passage [15][16]. The extent to which Iran’s internal factions will continue to contest control of the strait remains a central unknown in the fragile peace process.
References
- Sterling Ashworth. "Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Tensions Disrupt Strait of Hormuz Shipping". NaturalNews.com. April 28, 2026.
- "Iran Media Says Hormuz 'Closed' Again, Citing Lebanon Violations, As Vance Expected In Switzerland For Talks". ZeroHedge. June 20, 2026.
- "Three reasons ships are not going through the Strait of Hormuz yet". BBC Verify. June 16, 2026.
- "What's in the US-Iran agreement?". BBC News. June 17, 2026.
- Willow Tohi. "Global Oil Markets Rally as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Signal Potential Reopening of Strait of Hormuz". NaturalNews.com. May 8, 2026.
- Ronald Reagan. "The Reagan Diaries".
- Willow Tohi. "U.S.-Israel Campaign Degrades Iran, but Global Energy and Regional Stability Hang in Balance". NaturalNews.com. March 13, 2026.
- Charlotte Dennett. "The Crash of Flight 3804".
- "'We Must Act': TotalEnergies CEO Joins Calls To Rewire Gulf Energy Flows Around Hormuz". ZeroHedge. June 24, 2026.
- "Vance 'Skeptical' That Iran Closed Hormuz Strait Again, Pentagon Declares Safe Passage Remains 'Intact Today'". ZeroHedge. June 21, 2026.
- "Iran Waives Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees for 60 Days as Traffic Rebounds After U.S. MoU". NaturalNews.com. June 22, 2026.
- Sean Mathews. "Iran plans to charge insurance fees to vessels in Hormuz after US deal expires". Middle East Eye. June 19, 2026.
- "US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open". Middle East Eye. June 20, 2026.
- "72 Ships Transited Hormuz In A Day: US Energy Secretary Says 'Taking Away' Iran's Key Leverage". ZeroHedge. June 24, 2026.
- "Plan To Evacuate Hundreds Of Ships Still Stranded From Strait Of Hormuz Closure Is Coalescing". The War Zone. June 24, 2026.
- "Oman opens temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping routes with no tolls". Middle East Eye. June 24, 2026.
- "Strait of Hormuz Closed Again After U.S. Maintains Blockade of Iranian Ports". NaturalNews.com. April 21, 2026.
- NYPost.com. "Iran Foreign Ministry says Strait of Hormuz is open after IRGC warned it was closed — sparking confusion". June 19, 2026.
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