Iran Blocks Critical Shipping Lane as Peace Talks Start—Contradicting Its Own Terms

Iran's military announced it closed the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping channel—on June 20, 2026, the same day peace talks began in Switzerland. The move breaks an agreement Iran itself proposed, which requires reopening the waterway. The US military rejected the claim. Experts debate whether Tehran is squeezing for leverage or signaling internal doubts about peace.