Iran-US War Latest: Trump Threatens Tolls on Strait of Hormuz After Iran Declares Waterway Shut

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Iran-US war latest: Trump threatens imposing ‘Guardian Angel’ tolls on Strait of Hormuz after Tehran declares waterway shut again

US military says traffic still flowing through Strait of Hormuz after Iran pledges to shut vital waterway

US president Donald Trump has threatened to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz if the deal with Iran is not completed.

His comments, posted to social media platform Truth Social on Saturday evening, came after Iran said it would close the crucial waterway to tankers, citing alleged violations of the ceasefire by the US and Israel.

The US military had said that traffic continued to flow through the Strait and the US is monitoring the situation to ensure that continues.

But Mr Trump took to social media to insist that there should be no tolls during the cease fire period “unless they are imposed by and for” the US “for services rendered as the Guardian Angel” to the Middle East.

Iran’s top joint military command, ​Khatam al-Anbiya Central ​Headquarters, said earlier on Saturday that the closure was the "first step" in response to what it described as breaches of commitments.

It warned further measures would be taken if the “aggression” continued.

US President Donald Trump insists there will be no tolls on Strait of Hormuz

US president Donald Trump has taken to social media platform Truth Social to insist that there will be no tolls on the Strait of Hormuz unless they are imposed by America, after Iran claimed they would close the crucial waterway to tankers.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday evening, Mr Trump said: “There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the cease fire period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for the purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs.

“Thank you for your attention to this matter!!! President DJT”.

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 21:12

Israeli strikes on Lebanon reportedly kill 20 people

Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 20 people on Saturday, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.

Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired overnight by Hezbollah. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what the official described as "Hezbollah targets". Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had struck multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah accused Israel of committing hundreds of ceasefire violations, and warned that continued attacks "will not pass without a response".

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 20:33

Row between Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and US president Donald Trump

Italian ​Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told US President Donald Trump on Saturday to look after his own popularity after he accused his NATO ally of trying to boost her domestic ratings by repairing ties with Washington.

Mr Trump had alleged that Ms Meloni had "begged" him for a photo with her during this week's Group of Seven summit in France. He repeated the assertion ​on Saturday, misspelling her name as "Gigiorgia" as he posted on his Truth ​Social ​platform that "she wants to be ​friends again in order to get her 'numbers up'."

Ms Meloni responded, posting on Instagram in English: “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.”

“My popularity is none ​of your concern," she added. "I suggest you focus ​on yours.”

Ms Meloni’s government, which took office in 2022, has seen public approval rise in opinion surveys to around 35 per cent after a steady decline in 2025.

Italys first female prime minister told Mr Trump on Saturday that being his friend has certainly not helped her popularity. Mr Trump repeated earlier ​criticism of Rome for not ​allowing the use of US military bases in Italy during the ​war with Iran that the US and Israel began at the end of February.

Ms Meloni responded: “Their ​use is governed ​by agreements that we have always respected ​and that cannot be violated. As ​long as I am prime minister, Italy remains a sovereign nation.”

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 19:56

JD Vance 'expects to leave' for talks with Iranians in the coming days

US vice president JD Vance has indicated that he will set off soon for meetings with the Iranians.

Mr Vance, in an interview with Fox News, said he was confident the ceasefire agreed in Washington's 14-point deal with Tehran would hold, and that he had seen no evidence that the strait was closed. "I expect that I will leave sometime in the next couple of days, but you know it's always a delicate coordination dance and the diplomatic protocols," Mr Vance said.

He added that US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had been in Switzerland "for a few hours, dealing “with some of the technical elements of this negotiation". "My understanding, talking to Jared and Steve this morning, is things are going well," he added.

The Iranian delegation have set off for talks in Switzerland, according to Iran’s state media.

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 19:20

Iran team departs for Switzerland for talks with US

An Iranian team have departed for Switzerland for talks with the United States, Iranian state media have reported.

The Iranian delegation is being led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and included foreign minister Abbas Araqchi as well as senior security, central ban and oil officials, Iranian media said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran would press in Switzerland ​for a fulfilment of commitments, citing past failures by the other side to honour agreements.

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 18:39

US military denies that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz

The US military has denied Iran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open.

​US Central Command spokesperson ​Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told the news agency Reuters that US forces were “monitoring the situation” to ensure that ships could pass.

He said: “Traffic continues to ​flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the ​case."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier on Saturday and warned ships not to approach the waterway, ​casting new doubt ​on the future ​of a ceasefire agreement ​between the US ​and Iran meant to pave ​the way ​for in-depth peace ​talks.

Holly Bancroft20 June 2026 18:15

Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement

Nearly four months after the U.S. started its war with Iran, Donald Trump has signed a long-awaited deal to end the war, restore global shipping and resolve an abiding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Details of a 14 point plan were previously released by US officials, with an official signing ceremony expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday. However, it emerged on Wednesday evening that it had already been signed by the US president and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said any further Israeli attacks on Lebanon would be considered a breach of the terms of the deal. With Israel having continued its strikes on the country’s south, there remain concerns the deal could still fall apart.

James C Reynolds reports:

Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement

Trump has said he will resume bombing after 60 days if talks on Iran’s nuclear programme do not progress

Maira Butt20 June 2026 17:58

Watch: Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over ‘ceasefire violations’ days after Trump deal

Maira Butt20 June 2026 17:20

Netanyahu will try and undermine Trump’s Iran peace plan despite president’s warnings: report

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely try to undermine Donald Trump’s deal with Iran, U.S. intelligence officials have reportedly warned the administration.

Current and former U.S. officials told The Washington Post Netanyahu is intent on continuing operations in Lebanon despite an agreement signed by President Trump earlier this week.

The Israeli leader is facing intense political pressure to continue the conflict, that has run in parallel to the joint attacks on Iran he launched alongside the United States in February.

Israel’s Netanyahu will try and undermine Trump’s fragile Iran peace plan: report

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is already threatening to derail the deal Trump agreed this week

Maira Butt20 June 2026 16:50

Pakistan says follow-up talks between US and Iran set for June 21

Pakistan's foreign ministry has said on Saturday that follow-up technical-level talks between Iran and the US will be held in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on 21 June.

It said US and Iranian representatives would participate, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar in order to continue discussions following a ceasefire deal signed this week.

It added in a post on X that Pakistan will continue to facilitate the process in its role as mediator as per previous negotiations.

Maira Butt20 June 2026 16:15