Tehran warned on Saturday (April 18, 2026) that it would close the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. This came just hours after Iran announced it had reopened the strategic waterway following a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The possibility of resuming shipping had boosted global stock markets on Friday (April 17) and sparked hope in Washington. President Donald Trump told AFP that a broader U.S.-Iran peace deal was “very close.” He also mentioned that Tehran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, which had been a major obstacle in the negotiations.