Iran asserts that the Strait of Hormuz is blocked and demands the lifting of the American naval blockade.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has declared that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday night, April 18, and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on this maritime route.

According to Sepah News, the official information outlet of the IRGC, this action was taken after the U.S. violated their commitments under the two-week ceasefire that began on April 8 and did not end their naval blockade on Iranian ships and ports.

The IRGC Navy has advised all ships and their operators to follow official updates on their channel and international distress frequency VHF 16. They have warned that any ship leaving its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman will be considered as cooperating with the enemy and dealt with accordingly.

The heightened control over the Strait of Hormuz by Iran began on February 28, when they banned passage to Israeli and U.S. ships or those affiliated with them. This followed joint strikes by the two countries against Iranian territory. The U.S. then imposed its own blockade on the strait after failed peace negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan.

On April 17, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the strait would remain completely open for commercial navigation during the current truce with the U.S. However, President Trump insisted that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in place until an agreement was reached with Iran, stating that Iran could not “blackmail” the U.S. with the strait.