Iran Claims Strait of Hormuz Closure as U.S. Technical Talks Shift to Sunday

Tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified over the last 24 hours as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the Strait of Hormuz has been closed. The move is framed by Tehran as a response to continued Israeli airstrikes and ground clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, U.S. Vice President JD Vance countered these claims, stating that the U.S. has seen no physical evidence that the critical waterway is obstructed, though he confirmed the administration expects diplomatic engagement to continue. On the diplomatic front, highly anticipated technical talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Switzerland have been rescheduled for Sunday. The delay comes as Iran attempts to shift the focus of the negotiations, conditioning progress on a broader regional truce. Iranian state media suggests that any U.S.-led agreement involving the reopening of the Strait or the unfreezing of assets must include a mandate for Israel to halt its military operations against Hezbollah. The Trump administration continues to signal that a diplomatic path remains open if regional hostilities subside, but significant obstacles remain. Israel has reportedly informed intermediaries that it does not consider itself bound by any potential U.S.-Iran understanding. As Israeli forces maintain their positions in southern Lebanon, the linkage between Lebanon’s security and the U.S.-Iran nuclear track has become the primary point of contention for negotiators heading into the Sunday sessions.