Iran claims Hormuz Strait closed; US reports normal traffic

The United States and Iran presented conflicting accounts on June 20 regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's state media reported that the waterway had been closed to vessel traffic, citing continued Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon following a ceasefire as a response to a memorandum of understanding with the US. However, the US Central Command (Centcom) indicated that commercial shipping had not been disrupted, reporting that 55 merchant vessels transited the strait on June 20, carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil, and affirmed that safe passage remained intact with US forces supporting freedom of navigation. Ship-tracking data showed mixed activity, with some vessels continuing passage while others halted or appeared to switch off Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals. US President Donald Trump addressed the issue of tolls, stating that no charges would be imposed during a 60-day negotiating period and none thereafter unless the US chose to implement them. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation arrived in Switzerland for talks with US negotiators, led by Vice President JD Vance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had carried out a strike on Hezbollah on June 19, despite the ceasefire.