**Vice President JD Vance said Saturday there is no evidence Iran has succeeded in closing the Strait of Hormuz, pushing back against an Iranian military declaration that it intended to shut down the critical waterway.**
Appearing on Fox News’ *Fox & Friends Weekend*, Vance was asked about reports that Iranian forces were preparing to block commercial shipping through the narrow passage. He rejected those claims as inconsistent with current shipping data, noting that vessels continued to transit the strait and that oil shipments remained at exceptionally high levels.
“One of the things that the president has set us out to do as a high priority is to open the Strait,” Vance said. He cited recent figures showing that 16 million barrels of oil moved through the waterway the previous day—a record volume dating back to before the conflict began. “So you’re seeing those ships move,” he added.
Vance’s remarks came hours after Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced its intention to close the Strait of Hormuz. The command accused the United States and Israel of violating commitments tied to a recent ceasefire agreement and said continued military activity had prompted the decision. Iranian state media reported that the announcement also referenced Israeli operations in southern Lebanon and ongoing activity by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.
The statement immediately heightened concerns about potential disruptions to international energy markets and global shipping. The Strait of Hormuz ranks among the world’s most important energy chokepoints. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, serving as a vital route for oil and gas exports. Any sustained interruption could sharply affect global energy prices, shipping costs and international markets.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran that included provisions aimed at restoring normal passage through the strait after months of disruption. The latest Iranian declaration has raised fresh questions about the durability of that agreement under renewed military and political pressure.
Despite the threat, Vance sought to reassure markets that commercial traffic remained active. He also confirmed that diplomatic efforts were continuing, noting that special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner were in Switzerland ahead of negotiations scheduled for Sunday.
Those talks are unfolding against a backdrop of escalating violence in southern Lebanon. Lebanese Civil Defense officials reported that Israeli strikes in the area killed at least 16 people and wounded 12 others. Israel confirmed it had conducted the strikes, saying they followed the launch of more than 50 projectiles by Hezbollah toward Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military described the operation as necessary “to remove threats and in response to Hezbollah’s blatant violations,” stating that it had struck dozens of Hezbollah sites and targeted militants across the region.
The renewed fighting in Lebanon adds further complexity to already fragile negotiations marked by competing accusations among Iran, Israel and the United States. For now, the Trump administration is emphasizing that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that diplomatic channels remain active. Whether Iran attempts to enforce its threat—and whether commercial shipping can sustain current volumes—will serve as an early test of the ceasefire’s resilience and the broader effort to prevent another regional escalation.
