The Iranian military announced it would begin closing the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday evening (local time) and will continue the closure until the U.S. lifts its blockade on Iranian ships and ports.
On 18 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement via Telegram declaring that their navy would start closing the Strait of Hormuz that evening (local time) and maintain the closure until the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.
The IRGC statement said, "Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and any vessel violating the order will become a target of attack."
Previously, Iran had announced the reopening of its waters on Friday, but reversed course to impose navigational restrictions again on Saturday, citing repeated U.S. breaches of ceasefire commitments between the two sides.
The IRGC stated, "The American enemy has not lifted its maritime blockade on Iranian ships and ports, violating the ceasefire agreement. Therefore, from this evening onward, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until the blockade ends."
The IRGC also warned that all vessels should not move from their anchorage points in both the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. They urged ship owners to follow updates only from Iranian sources, dismissing statements by the U.S. president as "unreliable."
Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament and head of the negotiation team, told government media that the U.S. blockade was "a foolish and reckless decision," adding, "It is impossible to allow others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz when we ourselves cannot."
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Source:cnn