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Current Affairs

Closed? Open? Closed? Why is Iran changing course on the Strait of Hormuz?

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz only hours after its reopening is a tactic by Iran to gain leverage over the United States before…

By Samantha Johnson / April 18, 2026
With the clock counting down to the end of a two-week ceasefire with the US on Wednesday, a deal with Washington was still possible and the likelihood of Tehran imposing a toll on the waterway was low, they added.

The assessment came as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that control of the strait had “returned to its previous state”, saying the US’ continuing naval blockade of Iranian ports amounted to “piracy and maritime theft”.

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“Until the US puts an end to the complete freedom of movement for vessels from Iranian origin to destination and from destination to Iranian origin, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and in its previous state,” the IRGC’s military command spokesman said, according to Tehran’s Fars News Agency.

Iranians dismiss Trump threats to block Hormuz Strait

Iranians dismiss Trump threats to block Hormuz Strait

A day earlier, Iran had announced that the waterway was fully open to commercial vessels, a move US President Donald Trump applauded while stressing that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports along the strait “is going to remain”.

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