FRANCE PERSPECTIVE

Paris, June 21, 2026. Iran announced on Saturday the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a second blockade episode in recent weeks—in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed at least 24 people in southern Lebanon, despite the implementation of a new ceasefire announced the previous day. Iran's central military command characterized the measure as a "first response to the enemy's violation of commitments," threatening "additional measures" if necessary to compel the adversary to respect the accord protocol.

This show of force comes only three days after the signing of the Iran-US nuclear protocol, which made the reopening of the strait one of its central conditions. Iran's diplomatic spokesperson, Ismail Baghai, warned unambiguously that the text would be "in jeopardy" if its provisions were not implemented swiftly: "The other party must take necessary measures immediately, or the entire accord protocol will be in jeopardy," he stated, cited by the state agency IRNA.

In practical terms, the closure did not halt traffic on Saturday. US Central Command confirmed that 55 merchant vessels, including oil tankers carrying more than 17 million barrels of crude, transited the strait under escort by American warships. The Revolutionary Guards had nonetheless urged merchant vessels not to attempt passage "for their own security." Iran maintains therefore a symbolic and diplomatic pressure without physically blocking flows at this stage.

Donald Trump responded via Truth Social with a double-edged formula: he affirmed that no toll would be imposed during the ongoing 60-day ceasefire period, while hinting he could introduce one if negotiations failed, "for services rendered as guardian angel of Middle Eastern nations and to offset past, present, and future costs."

Despite tensions, both parties maintain the diplomatic channel open. Technical-level discussions between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistani and Qatari mediators present, were announced for Sunday at Burgenstock, Switzerland. The US envoy Steve Witkoff was en route to Switzerland, as was Iran's chief diplomat. Full cessation of hostilities in Lebanon remains the precondition for opening the 60-day period of negotiations on the nuclear dossier proper.

On the Lebanese ground, Israel and Hezbollah mutually blame each other for truce violations. An Israeli military official nonetheless indicated the military had received orders to cease direct confrontations with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, while continuing to operate "defensively." Since March 2, Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed 4,057 people according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.