Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 18 Apr 2026, 05:26 am Print
Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic, critical, busy and narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/NASA
Iran’s military on Saturday announced the reimposition of restrictions on ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as “repeated breaches of trust” by the United States in the wake of a fragile ceasefire.
An Iranian military spokesperson, quoted by CNN, said Tehran had earlier permitted a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels to transit the strait. However, he accused the US of continuing “piracy and maritime theft” under the guise of enforcement actions, according to remarks carried by the semi-official Fars News Agency.
UKMTO WARNING 037-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) April 18, 2026
Click here to view the full Warning⤵️https://t.co/3Fxxl1HHUA#MaritimeSecurity #Marsec pic.twitter.com/SCG3TglveA
In a separate development, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker navigating the Strait of Hormuz came under fire from two gunboats allegedly operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were safe, adding that an investigation into the episode is ongoing.
The situation marks a sharp reversal within 24 hours. On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi had announced the reopening of the strait, allowing commercial vessels to pass through designated routes during the ceasefire period.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared fully open,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 17, 2026
Reacting to the development, US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed not to shut the strait again, describing it as a step to prevent its use as a “weapon against the world.” However, he noted that a US naval blockade would remain in place until a broader agreement with Tehran is reached.
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