Strait of Hormuz Restrictions Return as Ceasefire Unravels |
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The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is in grave peril after Iran announced on Saturday that, in response to the continued U.S. blockade, it would once again impose travel restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reopening it on Friday.
Iran has used the strait — through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes — as a chokepoint on Western commerce in response to the illegal U.S.-Israeli war launched in February, and it has been the linchpin of the two-week ceasefire between the two sides, which is scheduled to end Wednesday.
Tehran announced Friday that the strait was “completely open” again in response to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which had taken effect. That agreement is also already falling apart following a slew of apparent violations by Israel, which has continued shelling southern Lebanon and demolishing homes even as displaced civilians return.
BREAKING: Iran has announced it is again closing the Strait of Hormuz. The military says the US must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before the Strait is opened again. pic.twitter.com/Gm8bNIfmwo— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) April 18, 2026
BREAKING: Iran has announced it is again closing the Strait of Hormuz. The military says the US must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before the Strait is opened again. pic.twitter.com/Gm8bNIfmwo
Iranian officials said they opted to reimpose their blockade of the strait because they believe that by continuing its own naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, which began over the past weekend, the U.S. is not upholding its end of the deal.
According to a social media post from U.S. Central Command on Saturday, the U.S. military has already turned around at least 23 ships near the strait since its blockade began on April 13.
Trump Says He’s Still Blockading Iran After It Says It’s Opening Strait
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Friday that Iran had agreed to reopen the strait without conditions, but that the U.S. blockade would “remain in full force” until a broader deal was reached surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
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