Iran has halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and warned that an attack on Hezbollah is an attack on Iran itself, amid escalating tensions in Lebanon.
Iran Halts Traffic in Strait of Hormuz
Iran has suspended movement in the Strait of Hormuz, with several ships in the Persian Gulf receiving notice from the Iranian navy of the closure, according to Reuters sources.
Previously, an anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen on Thursday or Friday (April 9/10) but with limited access and on Tehran’s terms.
Iran Links Hezbollah Attacks to Its Own Security
“An aggression against the proud Hezbollah is an aggression against Iran. The battlefield is preparing a sharp response to the brutal crimes of the Israeli regime,” stated the Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran’s state news agency Tasnim reported that Iran will withdraw from a two-week ceasefire if Israeli attacks on Lebanon do not cease.
Ceasefire Coordination and Conditions
Following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would occur “in coordination with Iranian armed forces and with consideration for technical limitations.”
Israeli Strikes Intensify in Lebanon
The Israeli army conducted strikes on nearly 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Wednesday (April 8), marking the most intense wave of airstrikes since Hezbollah joined the conflict on March 2. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 112 fatalities and 837 injuries as a result of the Israeli attacks.
US-Iran Ceasefire and Lebanon Exclusion
The attacks followed an agreement between the US and Iran for a two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, which included the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the two-week ceasefire with Iran does not include military operations in Lebanon, leading to the intensified Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets.
Trump: Separate Conflict
Donald Trump stated in an interview with PBS that the ceasefire with Iran does not concern Lebanon or Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah, calling it “a separate fight.”