PoliticsEconomyWorldHOTSaturday, April 18, 2026

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz to Commercial Vessels Amid US Blockade

TLDR

Iran fully closed Strait of Hormuz on April 18 over US blockade.
IRGC turned away two Indian ships; warned US warships are in range.
IRGC seized 'MSC Francesca' (linked to Israel) and 'Epaminondas'.
Seized ships accused of tampering, non-compliance, and being "enemies".

Iran's military has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is returning to "strict control", with passage through the key shipping lane now requiring Iranian approval. This decision, communicated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other state media on April 18, 2026, comes in direct response to the United States' refusal to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials, including the commander for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ali Abdollahi, warned that if the US blockade continues, creating insecurity for Iranian commercial vessels, it would be a "prelude to a violation of the ceasefire." Iran further threatened that if its own ports are jeopardized, no ports in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman will be safe, and it would prevent all exports and imports in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea. The US military had previously stated its intention to enforce a blockade on traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports from Monday 10 a.m. ET following failed negotiations.

5 Updates

Update #6\u00b7 Apr 22 · 1:32 PM

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has provided further details regarding the seizure of the 'MSC Francesca' and 'Epaminondas'. The IRGC explicitly stated that the 'MSC Francesca' is linked to Israeli control, and an official statement from the IRGC described both vessels as being connected to "the enemies". In addition to operating without necessary permits and endangering maritime security, the IRGC accused the ships of tampering with navigation systems and attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz.

Update #5\u00b7 Apr 22 · 10:48 AM

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reportedly seized two vessels, the 'MSC Francesca' and the 'Epaminondas', in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state news agency Tasnim. The IRGC claimed the vessels were 'non-compliant', operating without necessary permits, and had endangered maritime security. These are reportedly the same ships that were shot at earlier in the waterway. The vessels have since been escorted to the Iranian coast, though the exact nature of their seizure remains unclear.

Update #4\u00b7 Apr 20 · 6:31 AM

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy has extended the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all passages, including previously designated safe corridors, declaring it fully closed until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted. This follows an earlier, more lenient stance on Friday (April 17) where vessels could pass with coordination and a toll. A statement late Saturday (April 19) from state media warned that any violating vessel would be targeted. Furthermore, the IRGC has issued a strong warning that massive American warships in the region are now within range of Iranian coastal missile systems, in response to the US strengthening its naval presence, including aircraft carriers, near strategic waterways.

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