June 20, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance said on Saturday he expected to go to Switzerland soon for talks with Iran, even as Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut, alleging US and Israeli truce violations.
The move by the hardline IRGC appeared to raise the stakes ahead of the talks, as both sides seek to advance the interim deal signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to end their almost four-month war.
The IRGC warned ships not to approach the waterway, a vital conduit for global oil and gas supplies, citing what it called Israeli "crimes" in Lebanon and a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire. It said vessels' security would be at risk if they approached the strait.
Preparations for Iran Talks 'Going Well', Says Vance
