Posted on 06/19/2026 8:25:32 AM PDT by PA2SK
WASHINGTON — Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz Friday instead of heading to Switzerland for nuclear negotiations, citing Israel’s refusal to pull forces out of southern Lebanon and US forces’ ongoing presence in the region.
In a statement read over maritime radio channels, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the US was in violation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Bombing should begin immediately............and not stop...............
Negotiating with these lunatics is such a joy.
I don’t understand. Aren’t these international waters?
Iran is whipsawing President Trump for the purpose of electing enough Iranian controlled democrats to take control of Congress.
If Iranian controlled democrats take control of Congress, that’s it. Iran has won. There is a real chance that is going to happen and it scares me big time.
Crude oil markets don’t seem to believe this is true.
They are playing Trump for a fool.
At this point it’s safe to assume they have no intention of honoring any agreement
That's certainly our position.
Which holds up until one looks at a map, and then learns that the Strait runs through territory controlled by either Iran or Oman.
“Negotiating with these lunatics is such a joy.”
Definitely job security.
wy69
And you believe NY Post? Just like Sequoyah says, the crude doesn’t bare this out.
I think we should announce the straits are open forever following section WW87 of the memo of understanding. Theran not available for comment.
I hope that this is Gayattollah bluster.
That didn’t take long......
” Aren’t these international waters?”
The Strait of Hormuz is not classified as international waters. Instead, it is an international strait that falls entirely within the overlapping territorial waters of Iran and Oman, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Iran does not recognize UNCLOS regarding tolls, and instead claims that coastal states have the right to charge environmental fees and maritime service charges. In practice, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) enforces its toll collection through naval screenings and threats of attack. But by threatening attack, they violate the UNCLOS directive on safe passage. Catch 22.
wy69
Sure doesn't sound like Iran wants peace... eff em.
The Solution:
Build a large pipeline and rail line between the Gulf thru Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Egypt to the Mediterranean.
Build a large pipeline and rail line between the Gulf thru Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey to Europe.
In Alaska Drill Baby Drill.
Strait of Hormuz is no longer a choke point.
Yeah, I really expected more from Trump on this. You would think that by now he has had plenty of experience dealing with fanatics. Of course, the Iranians are even crazier than the Democrats. Anyone who believes martyrdom is a desirable outcome is going to be just about impossible to deal with.
The navigable part of the Strait is almost entirely within Iranian or Omani territorial waters (thus not international waters). However, there is a customary right of innocent passage. (And that customary right is codified in the UN law of the sea treaty although the USA is not party to that and the Iranians have not ratified it.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.