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World
Apr 18, 2026

Iran Reinstates Hormuz Closure After U.S. Refuses to Lift Port Blockade, Raising Global Oil Concerns

AI Summary
Iran has reversed its brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, re‑imposing strict military control after the United States signaled it will keep its blockade on Iranian ports. The move, accompanied by reports of IRGC gunboats firing on commercial tankers, threatens the flow of roughly 20% of the world’s oil and LNG and could further elevate energy prices worldwide.

Iranian authorities announced a swift reversal of the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening, reinstating tight military oversight after Washington declared it would maintain the blockade on Iranian ports.

IRGC vessels engaged a tanker attempting to transit the waterway on Saturday, and a separate Indian‑flagged crude carrier was also reported to have come under fire, according to a UK maritime agency and Reuters.

The Khatam al‑Anbiya joint military command stated that the strait has returned to its "previous status" and is now under "strict management and control by the armed forces". The restrictions will stay in place unless the United States guarantees full freedom of navigation for vessels traveling to and from Iran, a condition reiterated by Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh and the IRGC navy command.

Speaking at a Turkish diplomatic forum in Antalya, Khatibzadeh warned that the U.S. cannot impose a "siege" on Iran while Tehran seeks to ensure safe passage through the strategic chokepoint.

On the social platform X, the IRGC navy warned that any perceived breach of U.S. commitments would elicit a "appropriate response" and that the strait’s status would remain unchanged as long as Iranian shipping faces threats.

Iran initially closed the strait on 4 March following U.S.–Israeli airstrikes, reopening it only after a 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was brokered. The latest U‑turn follows President Donald Trump’s declaration that the U.S. blockade will remain in force until a permanent peace agreement with Tehran is reached, and he hinted that the temporary Pakistan‑mediated ceasefire may not be extended.

The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a tanker was approached and fired upon by two IRGC gunboats about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The vessel’s captain confirmed that no radio warning was given, but the crew emerged unharmed and authorities are investigating.

Despite the brief reopening, maritime tracking showed that only eight oil and gas tankers managed to pass through the strait before Iran’s reversal.

Approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transits the Strait of Hormuz, making it a focal point of the broader U.S.–Israeli‑Iran conflict. Its closure has already contributed to rising energy prices worldwide.

Regional diplomats remain cautiously optimistic: Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty expressed hope for a deal "in the coming days," noting that the prolonged conflict harms not only the Middle East but the entire world.