APTOPIX Iran War
Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
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Iran now says the Strait of Hormuz is fully closed until the end of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Its Revolutionary Guard navy said Saturday night that any vessel "approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered as cooperation with the enemy” and be targeted. Earlier Saturday, Iran fired on at least two ships trying to transit the crucial waterway. The developments come after the United States said it would continue its blockade. Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators are working to organize new negotiations between the countries. But Iran's deputy foreign minister tells the AP that Tehran isn't ready for new face-to-face talks.
The U.S. says it has attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz that tried to get around its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's joint military command says Tehran will respond soon and calls it an act of piracy. It’s the first interception since the U.S. naval blockade began last week. The incident raises questions about the fragile ceasefire that expires within days. Trump's announcement earlier on Sunday about another round of U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan this week is now in question. Iran hasn't confirmed its attendance. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil trade, and prices are rising again.
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