Strait of Hormuz

June 21, 2026 7:52 AM

US disputes Iranian claims about closing Strait of Hormuz as negotiators head to Switzerland

Negotiators from the United States and Iran were set to start peace talks in Switzerland on Sunday, even as U.S. officials disputed Iranian claims about closing the key Strait of Hormuz. A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. Although the U.S. and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negotiations take place, Tehr...

June 21, 2026 6:42 AM

Iran negotiators, Vance head for Switzerland but Lebanon fighting continues

A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. The Iranian delegation was led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as well as senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian media said. Although the U.S. and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negoti...

June 19, 2026 9:13 AM

Oil falls as supply starts moving through Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices fell on Friday on the prospect of more supply returning to the market after oil tankers began to move through the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of the U.S.-Iran interim peace deal. Brent ‌crude futures fell 54 cents, or 0.68%, to $78.31 a barrel as of 0146 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 46 cents, or 0.60%, to $76.14 a barrel. The front-month July contract expires on Monday. The more actively traded August contract was at $75.06 a barrel, down 79 c...

June 18, 2026 5:16 PM

First tankers cross strait after Iran deal; Israeli strikes stir doubt in Lebanon

Three Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying 6 million barrels of crude sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a deal with Iran to end the war that has disrupted global energy supplies. But in Lebanon, where more than a million people are displaced by the fighting, Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes on ‌Thursday morning, raising doubt about how far Trump will go to force his wartime allies to halt an offensive he has now pledged t...

June 18, 2026 1:35 PM

The Lebanese Question After the US-Iran Ceasefire: What Next for Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon?

The United States-Iran memorandum of understanding that ended nearly four months of direct military conflict has the potential to reshape the strategic landscape of West Asia. While initial global attention focused on the immediate implications for Washington and Tehran, one of the most consequential developments concerns Lebanon. With the MoU explicitly demanding a permanent termination of hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon ,the future of Hezbollah, Israel's security calculations, and ...

June 18, 2026 1:26 PM

US-Iran Agreement Takes Effect, Opening New Diplomatic Chapter in West Asia

A landmark memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has come into effect, bringing an immediate halt to nearly four months of direct conflict and opening a 60-day window for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. The 14-point agreement, signed electronically ahead of a planned meeting in Switzerland, establishes an immediate ceasefire, commits both sides to refrain from hostile actions, and sets out a framework for addressing longstanding disputes over Iran's nuc...

June 17, 2026 3:30 PM

IEA sees significant 2027 oil surplus after Hormuz recovery

The oil market will move into a significant supply surplus in 2027 after recovering from the closure of the Strait ‌of Hormuz, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report on Wednesday. The U.S. has announced an interim agreement to end the Iran war, which includes Iran reopening the strait and the U.S. lifting its naval blockade of Iran, potentially bringing an end to the largest oil supply disruption in history. The war is estimated to have blocked more than 14 mil...

June 17, 2026 3:07 PM

Trump criticises Israel’s Lebanon campaign as Iran warns of ‘harsh response’

US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying the conflict has gone on for too long and resulted in excessive civilian casualties. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump said Israel was "fighting Hezbollah too long" and that "too many people are being killed", urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act more responsibly. Trump also suggested that Syria's leadership could be better positioned to...

June 16, 2026 10:39 AM

US and Iran agree on peace framework; formal signing set for Geneva

A major diplomatic breakthrough has raised hopes of a broader de-escalation in West Asia after the United States and Iran announced a framework agreement aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict. Officials from both countries confirmed that a memorandum of understanding has already been signed electronically, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday. The agreement is expected to pave the way for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, restoring marit...

June 15, 2026 5:02 PM

Shippers remain cautious on Hormuz strait transit after US and Iran agree deal

Shippers in Asia and Europe said confidence in resuming transit through the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to rebuild and navigation will only restart once safety is assured, after the U.S. ‌and Iran agreed on a framework deal to reopen the waterway. U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the strait on Friday. Global oil prices fell about 5% on Monday in response. Shippers have welcomed n...