Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again, blaming US naval blockade
Fast facts
- Category: Middle East
- Language: EN
- Published: 2026-04-18 20:00 UTC
- Sources: BBC World News, Al Jazeera
Iran has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping after briefly reopening it, accusing the United States of imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports in violation of a ceasefire agreement. The IRGC warned that any ship approaching the strait would be targeted until the blockade ends, and Iranian military video showed forces ordering an Indian vessel to abort its passage. BBC reports Iran is blaming a US blockade as breaching the ceasefire, while Al Jazeera notes top negotiator Ghalibaf called the US action a 'clumsy and ignorant decision' and that no date has been set for US-Iran talks. France 24 highlights the back-and-forth nature of the closure, with the strait having been opened and then re-closed within a short period.