'Not seeing any evidence': Vance waves off Iran's Strait of Hormuz closure, touts 16M barrels of oil

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, June 20, pushed back against Iran’s claim that it has shut down the Strait of Hormuz following Israel’s strike on Lebanon, saying there is no evidence of restriction.

Iran, on Saturday, announced its plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding through continued military operations in Lebanon.

JD Vance says no evidence Iran closed Strait

Appearing on Fox News 'Fox & Friends', JD Vance touted the record-breaking oil flow through Hormuz. Responding to reports claiming Iran’s naval forces were blocking ship traffic in the strait, he said the passage was still open.

Vice President Vance told Fox News that “we're not seeing any evidence that the Iranians are still closing down the Strait of Hormuz.” 

“It is going to take some time to clear those mines, though,” Vance added.

“We got 16 million barrels out of the Strait of Hormuz in just the last 24 hours. That is basically where it was before the war even started. And so that suggests that the Straits really are open,” Vance added.

Vance also confirmed in the interview that special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are currently in Switzerland ahead of planned talks on Sunday to reach an agreement to end the war.

Iran announces restrictions and accuses US of 'bad faith'

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said Israel’s targeted attacks on the reportedly Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah breached a ceasefire agreement that went into effect hours before.

“In view of the United States’ bad faith and its clear breach of its commitments by failing to implement the first article of the memorandum ending the war, and in response to the continuous and ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the regime in southern Lebanon, it hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels,” the statement read.

The announcement has injected new uncertainty into the already damaged global energy market.

The Israeli military confirmed the overnight attacks in Lebanon, citing retaliation after “Hezbollah launched 50+ projectiles toward” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers “operating in southern Lebanon.”

The move targets one of the world's most important energy corridors and comes just as American, Iranian and regional negotiators prepare for a new round of talks in Switzerland aimed at preventing the agreement from unraveling.