Tehran, 18 April 2026 — Iran has formally closed the Strait of Hormuz effective Saturday evening, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command announced, declaring the closure will remain in force until the United States unconditionally lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The announcement, broadcast by Iran’s state-run IRIB network, marks one of the most consequential escalations in the Persian Gulf in decades, with immediate ramifications for global energy markets.
“As a result of the violation of the ceasefire regime, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed from the evening of today [Saturday], until the US lifts the naval blockade,” the IRGC Navy stated. The command further issued an unambiguous warning that any vessel attempting to approach the waterway would be subject to military strikes, with such an approach deemed tantamount to “cooperation with the enemy” — a direct reference to the United States.
The crisis traces its immediate origins to 13 April 2026, when the US Navy instituted a comprehensive blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has sought to frame the measure as targeted, insisting that non-Iranian vessels remain free to transit the strait provided they refrain from paying any toll to Tehran. Iranian authorities, for their part, have not formally announced the imposition of such a toll, though discussions to that effect have been reported at the governmental level.
The strategic weight of the Strait of Hormuz cannot be overstated. The narrow waterway, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Iran, serves as the transit corridor for approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas supplies. Its closure — even temporarily — is expected to send shockwaves through international commodity markets, disrupt global shipping lanes, and place acute pressure on energy-dependent economies across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Iran’s Vice President had earlier signalled Tehran’s resolve, stating that control of the Hormuz passage would be “secured one way or another,” underscoring that the Islamic Republic views the US naval blockade as a fundamental violation of its sovereignty and of any existing ceasefire arrangements. The IRGC’s formal closure order now transforms that political posture into an active military and maritime reality.
The standoff places the international community — and in particular Global South nations heavily reliant on Gulf energy exports — in an acutely precarious position, as the two parties show no immediate signs of de-escalation. Shipping companies, energy traders, and governments worldwide are now urgently assessing contingency measures in the face of what may become a protracted disruption to one of the planet’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Find more details at Sputnik International.