Vice President JD Vance, right, meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict, at the Bürgenstock Resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, in Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Nathan Howard, Pool/AP)
Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for talks on Iran’s nuclear program and to advance the interim peace deal, even after Iran issued a renewed order to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said Saturday that it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. military insisted commercial ships were transiting the waterway, adding uncertainty to the status of the U.S.-Iran talks that are meant to achieve a lasting peace agreement.
In a statement via state media, Iran’s central military command warned vessels against entering the strait, calling its closure a “first step” in response to what it said were violations of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding that paused hostilities last week.
The Iranian statement specifically mentioned Israel’s failure to withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon, where the Israeli military and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group have been exchanging deadly attacks, even days after the MOU was signed.
However, U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, cast doubt on Iran’s claim.
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case,” CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said.
Commercial ship traffic through the strait increased on Saturday, CENTCOM said in a statement.
Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins monitor a vessel of interest while deployed to the Middle East on June 12, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
“Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact [Saturday] as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets,” the statement said.
The U.S. and Iran last week signed a 14-point memorandum meant to end nearly four months of war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that usually carries about a fifth of global oil supply.
Under the MOU, Iran agreed to allow 60 days of toll-free transit in the strait, where it had spent months using military threats and attacks on shipping to exert control.
The U.S. also lifted its naval blockade that had attempted to restrict Iranian maritime activity. However, under the MOU, U.S. troops were not required to leave the region until 30 days after a final agreement is reached.
It is not clear how Iran’s latest alleged closure of the strait will affect the negotiations.
Shortly after Iran’s military announced the closure, the country’s foreign ministry confirmed it would send representatives to Switzerland on Sunday for talks on the broader peace agreement envisioned under the MOU.
Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Vance said talks between Iranian and U.S. officials are “going well.” He said Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are currently involved in the talks.
Vance also said he saw no evidence of the strait being closed.
Fighting in southern Lebanon has emerged as one of the biggest early tests of the ceasefire agreement.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 16 people on Saturday, according to Lebanon’s public emergency medical service. Israel said it carried out the attacks after Hezbollah fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight.
