The sudden blockade order was issued by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational command center overseeing all of Iran’s Armed Forces.
According to reports published across Iranian state media outlets—including IRIB, Tasnim, and Tabnak—the military command explicitly cited "clear bad faith and treaty-breaking by the United States" regarding the first clause of the June 18 peace memorandum recently signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The military directive also pointed to ongoing Israeli military operations and the failure of forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon as unacceptable violations of the ceasefire agreement.
"It is announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the transit of vessels. It is noted that this is the first step in responding to the enemy's breach of promise..."
The military leadership warned that this is only "Phase One," threatening further strategic actions if external aggressions continue.
Foreign Ministry Contradicts the Military
The military’s sudden announcement has exposed a stark internal divide. Almost immediately following the broadcast of the Khatam al-Anbiya directive, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs scrambled to contradict the military's claims.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei issued a rapid response rejecting the reports of a shutdown, categorizing the state media publications as "unfounded." According to Baqaei, maritime traffic is proceeding normally. He asserted that the Armed Forces are currently implementing measures to *ensure* the safe commercial transit of vessels under the terms of the June 18 agreement.
Global Implications
This unprecedented public contradiction highlights a fierce internal power struggle between Iran's diplomatic apparatus—which appears desperate to preserve the new peace agreement ahead of upcoming talks in Switzerland—and the hardline military command executing physical operations on the water.
The geopolitical and economic stakes are immense. Shipping lanes had only just started to see a slow trickle of returning oil tankers yesterday after a crippling months-long blockade. If the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters successfully enforces its directive on the water despite the Foreign Ministry's objections, the critical maritime transit route will freeze once again, likely sending immediate shockwaves through global energy markets.