US-Iran War: Tehran ‘halts’ Strait of Hormuz oil tanker traffic as Israel hits Lebanon

BEIRUT: Iran has halted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon, according to semi-official Iranian news agency Fars and confirmed by CNN. The move comes amid tense US-Iran relations following a fragile, Pakistan-mediated ceasefire.

Earlier this week, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a two-week conditional ceasefire to pause hostilities across the region, including Lebanon. However, Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hezbollah was explicitly excluded from the truce.

The Israeli military carried out what it called the largest strikes on Lebanon since the start of the war, hitting over 100 sites across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon within minutes. Lebanese authorities reported hundreds of casualties, with at least 1,530 killed and thousands injured in the escalation.

A few minutes after the Pentagon briefing wrapped I spoke with President Trump briefly to ask about the latest with Iran: pic.twitter.com/tW0nYD1Vcs

— Liz Landers (@ElizLanders) April 8, 2026

Iranian officials warned that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon could force Tehran to withdraw from the ceasefire. A source cited by Tasnim News Agency said, “Iran will withdraw from the agreement if violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime continue through attacks on Lebanon.” Meanwhile, oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already been suspended, with only a limited number of vessels allowed to pass since the ceasefire began.

US President Donald Trump insisted that Lebanon was not part of the US-Iran ceasefire, calling the conflict there a “separate skirmish” and signaling continued US support for Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah. These conflicting statements have cast doubt on the truce, raising fears it could collapse.

The situation carries serious implications for global energy markets, as the Strait of Hormuz is a key route for oil shipments. Energy prices and stock markets reacted sharply to the ceasefire, but the renewed violence in Lebanon highlights the fragility of regional stability.

Tehran has not yet launched direct attacks on Israel, but officials have warned that continued Israeli violations could provoke a broader response, risking a large-scale conflict in the region.