Tehran, June 20 -- Iran said on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessel traffic, a key maritime route for global energy shipments, citing deadly Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and accusing the United States of breaching clauses of a Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran. The move marks a sharp escalation in already volatile Middle East tensions.
Iran's central military command officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, alleging repeated U.S. and Israeli violations of understandings between Tehran and Washington.
"It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic. This first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise, and if t...