Vice President JD Vance said Saturday that Iran has not successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz despite announcements from Tehran’s military command claiming otherwise.
Vance made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends Weekend,” responding to reports that Iranian forces were moving to block shipping through the strategic waterway. The comments came hours after Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced it intended to close the strait in response to what it described as violations of a recent ceasefire agreement.
The vice president rejected the notion that the critical passage had been sealed off. “One of the things the president has set us out to do as a high priority is to open the Strait,” Vance said, pointing to shipping data showing continued vessel traffic.
Traffic Continues, Oil Shipments Surge
Vance cited commercial activity levels as evidence the waterway remains operational. “We actually got 16 million barrels of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz yesterday,” Vance said. “That is a record going back to even before the conflict started.”
According to the vice president, commercial traffic has continued moving through the passage and oil shipments remain at historically high levels. The Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with a significant portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international shipping lanes.
Iran’s Military Command Issues Closure Statement
Iran’s military command cited alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement as justification for the closure threat. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the command accused both the United States and Israel of failing to honor commitments made under a recent agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
The statement also cited ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon and accused the United States of acting in bad faith. The decision followed renewed Israeli military strikes targeting southern Lebanon that reportedly killed at least 16 people and wounded another 12, according to Lebanese Civil Defense officials.
The Israeli military confirmed conducting the strikes, saying they responded to Hezbollah launching more than 50 projectiles toward Israeli Defense Forces personnel. “In order to remove threats and in response to Hezbollah’s blatant violations, the IDF struck dozens of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites and terrorists in southern Lebanon throughout the night,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue Amid Tensions
Vance revealed that diplomatic efforts to secure a broader peace agreement are continuing. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are currently in Switzerland ahead of planned negotiations scheduled for Sunday, aimed at reaching a more permanent settlement between the United States and Iran.
President Donald Trump announced a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran earlier this week that included provisions reopening the strait after months of disruption. The closure of the route during previous conflict contributed to rising global energy prices and increased concerns about supply shortages.
The renewed violence has added pressure to ongoing diplomatic negotiations, with the latest dispute raising questions about the durability of the recent agreement. Whether Iran follows through on its closure threat remains unclear, and the White House has not yet publicly commented on Tehran’s declaration regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
This story has been updated. CNN’s international and political teams contributed to this report.