US officials, including President Trump, are denying Iran’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed after accusing the US and Israel of violating the memorandum of understanding. 

“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,” Trump said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

As the Gateway Pundit reported earlier, Iran claimed it was closing the Strait again after continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon on Friday and Saturday. Iran says Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from Lebanon violates the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

However, US Central Command said in a statment this morning that “Commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased June 20 as U.S. forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation.” The statement continued, “Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.”

Iran Says It’s Closing the Strait of Hormuz After Accusing US and Israel of Violations – VP Vance Says Strait is Still Open With Record Amount of Traffic (VIDEO)

Vice President JD Vance also responded on Saturday morning. In an update on the talks with Iran, Vance said, "We got 16 million barrels out of the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. That is basically to where it was before the war even started, and so that suggests that the straits really are open."

"We're not seeing any evidence that the Iranians are still closing down the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins also said in a statement, "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case."

Trump, who is currently on a rare visit to Camp David, declared that the Strait is open and that no tolls will be charged for shipping. He further suggested that the only tolls that will ever be charged in the Strait will be American tolls, "should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs."

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 purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!! President DJT

Trump has long suggested that the US should charge tolls for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won!" Trump said in April after Iran's military capacities had largely been defeated.

Talks between the US and Iran are planned for Sunday at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, according to CBS. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf are set to attend, with Special Envoys to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner representing the American side.

Vice President JD Vance, who is leading talks for the US, canceled his planned departure for Switzerland on Thursday night for the previously scheduled Friday meeting. Vance told Fox News this morning that he may travel to Switzerland "sometime in the next couple of days," pending the arrival of "the principals from the Iranian government, also the Qatari and the Pakistani government."

Jordan Conradson Jordan Conradson is The Gateway Pundit's White House correspondent. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona's elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America's fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.

You can email Jordan Conradson here, and read more of Jordan Conradson's articles here.

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