- By Talibuddin Khan
- Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran on Saturday shut the Strait of Hormuz again and accused the US of violating the agreement to open the waterway, following Washington's refusal to remove its Naval blockade of Iran-linked shipping on the crucial shipping route.
Iran's joint military command said that its "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state and the strait is under strict management and control of the armed forces." It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
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The latest restrictions came after US President Donald Trump said that the American blockade "will remain in full force" until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.
Earlier on Friday, Iran announced that the crucial waterway, which carries almost 20% of the global oil supply, has been "opened for all", but with a condition that the ceasefire in Lebanon should not be violated by Israel.
According to the Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Tehran had earlier agreed, in good faith, to allow limited and managed passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the strategic strait following negotiations. However, it said that the US repeatedly breached commitments and engaged in "piracy and banditry" under the pretext of enforcing a blockade over the ports of the Islamic Republic.
"Following previous agreements in negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed in good faith to allow a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a managed manner. Unfortunately, the Americans, with their repeated record of breach of promise, continue to engage in piracy and banditry under the guise of a so-called blockade," the statement read, as quoted by IRIB.
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The spokesperson further declared that control over the Strait has now been tightened, with the waterway placed under the "strict management and control" of Iran's armed forces. "For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic strait is under the strict management and control of the armed forces," the statement added.
The conflict over the chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after oil prices began to fall again on Friday on hopes that the US and Iran were drawing closer to an agreement. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait, and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again.
A data firm, Kpler, said movement through the strait remained confined to corridors requiring Iran's approval. US forces have sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began on Monday, US Central Command said on X.
Control over the strait has proven to be one of Iran's main points of leverage and prompted the United States to deploy forces and initiate a blockade on Iranian ports as part of an effort to force Iran to accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to end almost seven weeks of war that has raged between Israel, the US and Iran.
(With Agencies Inputs)