{"text":[[{"start":15.25,"text":"Iran said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks against Hizbollah as the conflict in Lebanon impedes Donald Trump’s push to end the war with the Islamic republic. "}],[{"start":27.15,"text":"The Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that the crucial waterway would be closed to all vessels as it accused Israel of “crimes” and the US of a “violation of its commitments” under a ceasefire."}],[{"start":39.2,"text":"Tehran had agreed to gradually reopen the strait under the terms of a memorandum of understanding it signed with Washington on Wednesday. "}],[{"start":46.900000000000006,"text":"That was meant to be followed by the start of nuclear talks in Switzerland on Friday. But Iran postponed negotiations because of the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah — its most important proxy — in Lebanon. "}],[{"start":59.35000000000001,"text":"The US, Qatar and Iran brokered a ceasefire on Friday, but the fighting continued. "}],[{"start":65.15,"text":"Despite the clashes, Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran would send a delegation to Switzerland for talks. Iranian media reported it was led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, and included foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, the central bank governor and the deputy oil minister."}],[{"start":83.5,"text":"Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are already in Switzerland, and vice-president JD Vance left to join them on Saturday."}],[{"start":94.2,"text":"“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” Vance told reporters before flying out."}],[{"start":103.4,"text":"Asked about the fighting in Lebanon, he said “Things are actually getting better there, and things are slowing down a little bit.”"}],[{"start":110.65,"text":"The negotiations are integral to implementing the MoU, under which the warring parties agreed to extend an April 8 ceasefire by 60 days, during which Tehran would begin to reopen the strait and the US would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports. "}],[{"start":125.95,"text":"Trump on Sunday threatened to impose tolls in the waterway if no deal was struck by the deadline."}],[{"start":131.65,"text":"“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,” the president posted on Truth Social."}],[{"start":161.70000000000002,"text":"Opening the strait — through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas normally passes — is a priority for Trump as he seeks to ease a global energy crisis. "}],[{"start":172.85000000000002,"text":"During the 60-day period, the US and Iran are supposed to negotiate a deal on the republic’s nuclear programme and a final settlement to the war, which has dragged on for more than 100 days."}],[{"start":184.95000000000002,"text":"But the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah has hindered the process and underlined the tenuous state of the interim deal between the adversaries, who harbour a deep distrust of one another. "}],[{"start":195.65,"text":"An Israeli military official said Hizbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight on Friday and into Saturday. The official said Israel had responded by striking dozens of Hizbollah targets — Lebanese authorities said 83 people were killed, including five children and seven women. Five Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon over the past two days, according to the Israel Defense Forces. "}],[{"start":222,"text":"According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli air strikes killed at least 16 people, including two children. A strike on the village of Barish killed four members of one family — parents and two children — officials said. "}],[{"start":235.2,"text":"The death toll in the current conflict between Hizbollah and Israel surpassed 4,000 on Saturday, Lebanon’s health ministry announced. "}],[{"start":242.79999999999998,"text":"Trump told NBC News on Friday afternoon that he had asked Israel to agree to a ceasefire, the latest of several attempts that have sought but failed to end the fighting in Lebanon. "}],[{"start":254.6,"text":"The MoU declared an immediate and permanent halt to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. But several ceasefires since April have failed to end the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah."}],[{"start":268.1,"text":"Hizbollah said on Saturday that it remained committed to the ceasefire, despite Israeli operations, but would “not tolerate any attempt by the enemy to seize territory or expand its occupation”."}],[{"start":279.90000000000003,"text":"The IDF said on Saturday night that it had received instructions from its government to “ceasefire,” with a second military official adding it was “not conducting proactive strikes” but “only operating in a defensive manner” in south Lebanon. "}],[{"start":293.85,"text":"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel would defend itself and maintain troops in what he described as a security zone in Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect communities in its northern border region. "}],[{"start":308.35,"text":"Additional reporting by Amy Mackinnon in Washington"}],[{"start":321.25000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782007944_5023.mp3"}