Iran halts tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, escalating tensions

Just hours after agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has again blocked ships from passing through waterway — blaming it on Israel striking Lebanon. “Due to Israeli strikes in #Lebanon, oil tankers will not be permitted to pass through the Strait of #Hormuz,” the Iranian embassy in Mumbai posted to X on Wednesday, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency. It comes after Iran threatened to “destroy” any ships that attempt to cross the strait without Tehran’s go-ahead as it attempts to set up a toll system to charge vessels to safely sail through the strait.