Iran Foreign Ministry Says Shipping Underway in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated on June 26 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 said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had broadcast a warning over maritime radio channels that the strait was closed.

The IRGC cited alleged U.S. violations of the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The 14-point MOU promised that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, in exchange for the U.S.

Lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Central Command stated it had formally lifted the two-month blockade. The MOU also called for a halt to hostilities and respect for Lebanon’s territory and was described by the Trump administration as performance-based.

The IRGC radio message stated that the strait would remain closed until Israel withdrew from Lebanon, the naval blockade was completely lifted, and American forces withdrew from the Persian Gulf and the region. It warned that any vessel defying the closure directive would be targeted. Brent crude prices fell sharply after the MOU was announced.

Vice President JD Vance told Fox News he was skeptical of the IRGC closure claim. Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former White House National Security Council official, said it would be important to respond forcefully to any Iranian attempts to pull back from the agreement.