Iran closes Hormuz due to US, Israeli ´violations´ of peace deal

Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced Saturday the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing U.S. "breach" of the newly-signed peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) and Israel's ceasefire "violations" in southern Lebanon, reported Xinhua, quoting Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.

Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation landed in Switzerland late Saturday for talks with the United States at the Burgenstock resort to halt the conflict in the Middle East, reported Xinhua.

"We welcome the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Switzerland," the Swiss foreign ministry said on X, adding that the Iranian delegation is on its way to the Burgenstock resort as part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the United States and Iran.

Meanwhile, according to Iran's state-run IRIB TV, the Iranian negotiating delegation, codenamed "Minab 168," has arrived in Switzerland.

Earlier Saturday, Switzerland said that it continues to provide a "discreet and reliable setting" to facilitate talks at the Burgenstock resort on the implementation of the MoU between the United States and Iran.

The initial negotiations on the implementation of the interim peace deal between the two sides were scheduled for Friday but were later postponed.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for Switzerland on Saturday for talks with Iran.

"I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue," Vance told reporters before his departure. "Those are the two big things that I think we're to be focused on."

"I can only be there for a day or two," Vance said.

Earlier, Vance also said that U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have already arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran, and that he himself could travel to Switzerland for the talks soon.

The talks could begin as early as Sunday, he added.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also left for Switzerland to participate in technical-level talks as a follow-up to the recently signed U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister's Office said on social media.

Also on Saturday, Israel's Channel 12 News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ordered the military to cease fire in Lebanon.

However, the forces did not withdraw from the territories they hold in southern Lebanon, it reported.

It reported that according to the order, which was made in coordination with the United States, the Israeli military will continue to hold the "Security Zone" in southern Lebanon, and if Hezbollah respects the ceasefire and does not carry out attacks or violations, the military will also stop offensive activity.

Israeli strikes kill 15 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli drone strikes and air raids across southern Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, according to the Health Ministry and the National News Agency (NNA), reported Xinhua.

The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women.

Elsewhere in southern Lebanon, a series of drone strikes killed eight people, including a Syrian national, and injured others, NNA reported.

Israeli drones also targeted several other locations across southern Lebanon, leaving at least one person injured, according to NNA.

The developments came despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that took effect on Friday afternoon.