Whatever progress Tehran and Washington made just last week has vanished almost overnight. On Saturday, Iran brought that emerging interim deal to a halt, blaming ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon and accusing the U.S. of acting “in bad faith.”
The biggest shift: Iran’s joint military command has closed the Strait of Hormuz again. This waterway moves about 20% of the world’s oil, and it had only reopened for commercial shipping after both sides signed an interim memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier in the week.
Speaking on state TV, Iranian military leaders said the closure was a direct response to what they called a “clear breach of its commitments” by Washington over continuing fighting in the Levant. They ended their statement with a blunt warning—the authorities already have “subsequent steps” ready if the current military aggression continues. The prospect of a clash at sea just became much more real.
As things deteriorate at sea, Tehran still plans to send its delegation to the scheduled meetings in Switzerland. But any optimism is gone, replaced by a hardened suspicion.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagahei said Iran’s team is done searching for compromise. He made it clear—they’re not heading to Switzerland to set new terms. They’re demanding the U.S. live up to promises already made.
“This trip is about insisting that the other side meet its obligations,” Bagahei said. He added that the idea of reaching a permanent diplomatic solution is off the table for now. Nothing moves forward until Iran’s main demand—an immediate, full stop to the hostilities in Lebanon—is met. He warned that ignoring any part of the agreements puts the entire memorandum of understanding at risk of unraveling.
Blue Press Journal 
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