Tehran Recloses Strait of Hormuz, US Prepared to Seize Iranian Tankers

 

 by Kyle Anzalone | April 18, 2026 at 1:14 pm ET

Within a day of opening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, Tehran reclosed it due to the US blockade of Iranian ports. President Donald Trump is preparing for the Navy to begin boarding Iranian vessels in international waters. 

In a statement, the Iranian government explained that it reopened the Strait on Friday due to Israel agreeing to halt attacks against Lebanon. However, the US refused to remove its blockade of vessels leaving Iranian ports, so the Strait was again closed. 

“As long as the enemy intends to disrupt vessel traffic or impose methods like naval blockades, the Islamic Republic of Iran will consider that a ceasefire violation and prevent the conditional, limited opening of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said. 

Additionally, Tehran says that after the Strait is reopened, vessels will still have to coordinate and pay a toll. Before the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, the Strait of Hormuz was an open international waterway. 

Tehran’s decision to reclose the waterway caused chaos in the Strait on Saturday. Multiple tankers that believed that they had clearance from Tehran to transit the Strait were fired upon by Iranian forces and forced to turn back. 

India said two tankers flying its flag were targeted, and summoned the Iranian ambassador. 

Responding to Tehran’s reclosing of the Strait, Trump claimed Iran has closed it multiple times in recent years, and he would not be “blackmailed.”

According to officials speaking with the Wall Street Journal, the US Navy is preparing to board and seize Iranian ships in international waters. 

President Trump issued a series of statements on Friday saying that Iran had capitulated to US demands and a deal would be finalized. However, Tehran maintains that it has not agreed to any concessions and the war will only end after the US agrees to Iran’s demands. 

https://news.antiwar.com/2026/04/18/tehran-recloses-strait-of-hormuz-us-prepared-to-seize-iranian-tankers/