DILI, 09 April 2026 (TATOLI) – The Strait of Hormuz has been closed again following Israeli military strikes on Lebanon that killed 89 people and wounded 722, escalating regional tensions less than a day after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement.
Iran moved to shut the strategic waterway after condemning the strikes, saying that attacks on Lebanon were not part of the provisional two-week ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran.
According to the Associated Press, the closure came less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, aimed at easing tensions in the region.
The United States on Wednesday urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately, quickly, and safely.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said any disruption to the vital shipping route was “completely unacceptable.”
“I will reiterate the president’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely,” she told reporters.
Despite Iran’s condemnation of the strikes, the United States signaled support for Israel, saying Hezbollah was not part of the ceasefire deal.
When asked by PBS News about Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon despite the truce, Trump said, “Yeah, they were not included in the deal.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil shipments, has long been a flashpoint in regional conflicts, and its closure is likely to heighten concerns over energy supplies and broader instability in the Middle East.
TATOLI
