Again, Iran Shuts Strait of Hormuz, Warns US, Iran Deal at Risk as Israel Resumes Attacks on Lebanon

*Tehran accuses Washington of ‘bad faith’, failure to enforce ceasefire commitments

*Iranian officials head to Switzerland for critical talks with US but signal little progress expected

Sunday Ehigiator

Iran yesterday dramatically raised the stakes in the Middle East crisis by once again announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil shipping routes, while simultaneously dispatching a high-level delegation to Switzerland for talks with the United States.Tehran has, however, warned that the talks could collapse unless Washington fulfils its commitments under a recently signed peace agreement.

The move came amid renewed bloodshed in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 people, including two children, only hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Tehran’s joint military command accused the United States of failing to uphold the first clause of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier last week, which called for an end to hostilities across the region, including Lebanon.