Tehran, 18 April 2026 — Iran has formally closed the Strait of Hormuz effective Saturday evening, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command announced, in a direct and sweeping response to what it characterised as a violation of an existing ceasefire regime by the United States Navy. The closure will remain in force until Washington completely lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
“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, as quoted by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB. 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 designation applied directly to the United States.
The escalation follows a significant and aggressive move by the US Navy on 13 April, when American forces initiated a full blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports situated on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway is of extraordinary global significance, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas supplies — making any sustained closure a direct threat to global energy markets and supply chains.
Washington has sought to frame its blockade in narrow terms, asserting that non-Iranian vessels remain free to transit the Strait of Hormuz provided they do not remit any toll payments to Tehran. Iranian authorities have not formally announced the imposition of such a toll, though discussions regarding the measure have been reported at the governmental level. The US position has done little to defuse tensions, with Tehran interpreting the blockade as an act of economic warfare and a breach of established ceasefire conditions.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz represents one of the most consequential developments in the Persian Gulf in recent decades, with immediate implications for global shipping lanes, energy security, and the broader geopolitical balance in the Middle East. The international community, including major oil-importing nations across Asia, Europe, and the Global South, now faces the prospect of severe supply disruptions as the standoff between Washington and Tehran intensifies.
Find more details at Sputnik International.