Earlier on Saturday morning, RedState shared the latest developments in the peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran ahead of planned meetings on Sunday:
The Trump administration’s interim agreement with Iran is already under serious strain. Iran’s joint military command announced Saturday that it has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon and what it characterized as American “bad faith” and a “clear breach of its commitments.”
The announcement came on Iranian state television, which warned that “if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned.”
Vice President JD Vance, in a comment during an interview Saturday, threw the Iranian regime's claim about closing the strait into question:
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News Saturday morning, disputed Iran’s announcement, saying there is no evidence the Strait of Hormuz is actually closed despite Iranian state media reports to the contrary. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are already in Switzerland, and Vance said he expects to join them within “the next couple of days.”
Read More: Iran Shuts Down the Strait of Hormuz Again, Says the U.S. Breached the Islamabad Deal
Later on Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement through spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins, asserting that "[t]raffic continues to flow" through the strait:
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case.”
The NY Times story linked above continued: [emphasis added]
Fifty-five commercial ships traveled through the strait on Saturday, according to the U.S. Central Command, the largest number of ships in a single day since early in the war, though still far below the 130 daily prewar average. It was not clear whether traffic had changed after Iran’s warnings.
CENTCOM published an article on X first thing on Saturday about the traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, also:
TAMPA, Fla. — Commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased June 20 as U.S. forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation. Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. The Joint Maritime Information Center issued an advisory this week affirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route that is free of arbitrary requirement claims or impediments. Details for the safe passage can be found here:
U.S. forces remain present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.
This is a developing story. RedState will provide updates as warranted.
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