Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, forcing the US into crisis talks as two ships reported coming under fire in the channel.
Two Indian-flagged tankers reported gunfire after Tehran said it was shutting the Strait, citing the continued US blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the vital waterway would remain closed until the US military lifts its blockade on Iranian vessels in a statement aired on state TV.
Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the navy was ready to inflict “bitter defeats” on its enemies, undermining hopes of weekend talks to end the war with just days left of the current ceasefire.
Donald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room to discuss the crisis and the status of talks, with no clear sign of talks resuming. A senior US official told Axios it looked like the war could reopen within days.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the US had put forward new proposals through Pakistan, and that Iran was considering them - but is yet to respond.
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Key Points
- Trump threatens to end ceasefire with Iran if no deal reached by Wednesday
- US-Iran talks set to resume Monday: report
- Iranian official warns Strait of Hormuz will close again if Trump's blockade continues
- Trump declares ‘victory’ over Iran after Strait of Hormuz oil channel is reopened
- Strait of Hormuz naval blockade remains 'in full force' until deal struck: Trump
- Trump reiterates Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon
Recap: US prepares to board Iranian ships as Iran shuts strait
04:00 , James Reynolds- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, citing the continued US blockade.
- The Revolutionary Guards said the strait would remain shut until the blockade ends.
- The WSJ reported that the US was preparing to board Iran-linked tankers in international waters, widening the conflict.
- There was no sign weekend talks were expected to go ahead on Sunday, with just days left until the ceasefire ends.
- Trump reportedly called a meeting on Saturday to discuss the lingering issues with Hormuz and the stalled talks.
Recap: Trump says Iran will not blackmail the US
03:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump was adamant that Iran would not “blackmail” the United States as Tehran said it was reimposing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Two tankers reported coming under fire in the channel on Saturday, as Iran declared it was closing the strait again due to the continued American presence in the area.
Trump played down the threat, saying Iran had “got a little cute”, after Iran’s supreme leader said his navy was ready to make the US “taste the bitterness of new defeats”.
"They wanted to close up the strait again, as they've been doing for years. They can't blackmail us,” Trump said.
The US blockade on Iranian ports remains a point of major contention, with just days left before the two-week ceasefire agreement expires on Tuesday.
Trump insisted that “very good conversations” were ongoing, while Iran’s national security council said it was considering new proposals from the US, following mediation efforts by Pakistan in recent days.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
02:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of Saturday’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Iran not ready for talks with US, says foreign ministry
01:30 , James ReynoldsIran is not yet ready to hold a new round of direct talks with the US, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, against claims made by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is a non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are nonstarters."
Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the United States of holding firm on demands Iran deems to be excessive.
"We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position.”
Watch: Pope Leo says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump
01:00 , James ReynoldsWatch: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
00:30 , James ReynoldsRecap: US prepares to board Iranian ships as Iran shuts strait
00:01 , James Reynolds- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, citing the continued US blockade.
- The Revolutionary Guards said the strait would remain shut until the blockade ends.
- The WSJ reported that the US was preparing to board Iran-linked tankers in international waters, widening the conflict.
- There was no sign weekend talks were expected to go ahead on Sunday, with just days left until the ceasefire ends.
- Trump reportedly called a meeting on Saturday to discuss the lingering issues with Hormuz and the stalled talks.
"Big distance" remains in US-Iran talks, says Ghalibaf
23:43 , James ReynoldsIran's top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf tells state TV that the Iranians have made progress in negotiations with the US, but “there is still a big distance”.
Watch: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
23:30 , James ReynoldsIn full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
23:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Recap: Investors bet $760m on falling oil prices just minutes before Hormuz reopened
22:30 , James ReynoldsInvestors bet around $760 million on a falling oil price around 20 minutes before Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was reopening on Friday - the latest in a series of large, well-timed gambles to draw scrutiny.
Between 1224 GMT and 1225 GMT investors sold a combined 7,990 lots of Brent crude futures, according to LSEG data. Those trade were worth around $760m at the time.
20 minutes later, at 1245 GMT, Iran's foreign minister said that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz was declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The announcement pushed crude down as much as 11% on the day in the minutes that followed.
Iran said the strait was closed again on Saturday, citing the continued US military blockade.
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
22:00 , James ReynoldsBritain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
The commitment by Sir Christian Turner comes amid long-running concerns over the state of the nation’s armed forces and warnings of under-funding.
Only this week, Labour former defence secretary and Nato chief Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused his own Government of “corrosive complacency” in the face of “the bright red signals of danger”.
Read the full story:
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Watch: Trump says White House will 'have a party' when Iran war ends
21:30 , James ReynoldsWhere have talks to end the war been left?
21:00 , James ReynoldsTrump said the US was having "very good conversations" with Iran, even as Tehran closed the strait again on Saturday.
The reversal has left diplomacy uncertain, with just three days until the US-Iranian ceasefire is due to expire.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
State television also quoted the Supreme National Security Council as saying the US had put forward new proposals after talks mediated by Pakistan in recent days.
Tehran was considering them but had not yet responded, it said.
There was no immediate sign of direct talks taking place at the weekend, despite Trump saying on Friday that negotiations would take place.
Lebanon ceasefire holds as Hezbollah backs diplomacy
20:53 , James ReynoldsAs Iran reasserts control of the Strait of Hormuz and threatens US ships, both ceasefires are tentatively holding.
Naim Qassem, the secretary general of Hezbollah, said in a message released on Saturday that the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon was a victory for his group.
The Shia cleric, 73, said Hezbollah was “fully open to cooperation with the Lebanese authorities in a new chapter built on achieving Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
The US has said Israel and Lebanon agreed that Hezbollah should be disarmed.
India says two ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
20:39 , James ReynoldsIndia’s foreign ministry says two Indian flagged ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today.
In a statement published on Saturday, a spokesperson said the Iranian ambassador was summoned to meet the foreign secretary this evening.
The secretary “conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz”, and the ambassador was to relay the message.
Recap: Trump 'holds crisis talks on Strait of Hormuz'
20:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room this morning to discuss negotiations with Iran and the reopened crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
A senior US official told Axios that unless there is a breakthrough in talks, it looks as though the war could reopen within days.
There is still no firm date for talks to resume this weekend, despite Trump’s hopes to end the conflict before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
An official told the outlet that today’s crisis talks were attended by senior figures of government including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent.
20:27 , James ReynoldsBritish police said today they found no hazardous substances in items found near London’s Israeli embassy and reopened Kensington Gardens, after investigating an online claim that the site had been targeted by drones.
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya had posted a video that included footage of drones along with two figures dressed in protective clothing and a message that the Israeli embassy in London was being targeted.
“While the Embassy of Israel was not attacked, we continue to work closely with the Embassy and its security team to keep the site safe and secure," a commander of counter-terrorism policing in London said.
Due to the incident, police presence was stepped up and cordons were put in place, closing public access to the nearby Kensington Gardens and the surrounding area.
Mine clearing a violation of ceasefire, says Ghalibaf
20:15 , James ReynoldsIran’s parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf tells Iranian state TV that any actions that interfere with Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz - including mine clearing - will be considered in breach of the ceasefire arrangement.
He said: “The Americans have announced a blockade in recent days; this is a reckless and misguided decision. It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.
“If the United States does not lift the blockade, transit through the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be restricted.”
Hormuz closed until blockade lifted, says IRGC
20:12 , James ReynoldsThe Iran Revolutionary Guards Navy says in a statement aired on Iranian state TV that the Strait of Hormuz is closed as of Saturday afternoon and will remain shut until the US blockade against Iranian vessels is lifted.
The regional commander threatens the US navy with a “hard blow” if it attacks Iranian vessels.
Any vessel ignoring warnings will be targeted, he says.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
20:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Watch: Trump warns Tehran ‘can’t blackmail us’ as gunboats ‘fire at tanker’ in Strait of Hormuz
19:45 , James ReynoldsWatch: Iran says control over Strait of Hormuz reimposed as US breached 'commitments'
19:30 , James ReynoldsIn pictures: Lebanese residents return to damaged homes after ceasefire takes effect
19:00 , James Reynolds
Trump 'holds crisis talks on Strait of Hormuz'
18:39 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room this morning to discuss negotiations with Iran and the reopened crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
A senior US official told Axios that unless there is a breakthrough in talks, it looks as though the war could reopen within days.
There is still no firm date for talks to resume this weekend, despite Trump’s hopes to end the conflict before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
An official told the outlet that today’s crisis talks were attended by senior figures of government including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent.
IRGC threatens to 'destroy vessels' crossing the Strait of Hormuz
18:30 , James ReynoldsAs Iran reasserts its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guards have issued a warning to ships in the area that they will destroy any vessels trying to cross.
A shipowner told the Wall Street Journal they had received a radio message declaring the strait was “completely closed again” and blaming the US government.
“No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” the message said, threatening any trying to cross “will be met with a severe response from the IRGC navy and will be destroyed.”
Iran not ready for talks with US, says foreign ministry
18:10 , James ReynoldsIran is not yet ready to hold a new round of direct talks with the US, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, against claims made by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is a non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are nonstarters."
Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the United States of holding firm on demands Iran deems to be excessive.
"We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position.”
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
18:00 , James ReynoldsBritain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
The commitment by Sir Christian Turner comes amid long-running concerns over the state of the nation’s armed forces and warnings of under-funding.
Only this week, Labour former defence secretary and Nato chief Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused his own Government of “corrosive complacency” in the face of “the bright red signals of danger”.
Read the full story:
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Reporter ordered 'out' of Oval Office after pressing Trump on Hormuz
17:46 , James ReynoldsA reporter says Donald Trump ordered her ‘out’ after she asked him about the two ships reportedly fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz.
As Trump spoke on psychedelic drug legislation in the Oval Office, CBS reporter Olivia Rinaldi asked him about the reports of ships being struck in the channel earlier today.
Trump is seen in a video of the moment looking away before ordering: “Out.” He thanks the other reporters, indicating the time to leave.
Trump only yesterday said Iran had vowed never to close the strait again - before the regime reasserted itself, citing the continued US military blockade.
Tried to ask the President about two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz who were allegedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats.
— Olivia Rinaldi (@olivialarinaldi) April 18, 2026
President Trump: "out" https://t.co/BehRFeElgf
Hezbollah refutes blame for killing of French soldier in Lebanon
17:14 , James ReynoldsA French soldier was killed and three others wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in an attack that peacekeepers and French officials said was likely carried out by Hezbollah.
French President Emmanuel Macron identified the fallen soldier as Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said, adding: “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into what it called "a deliberate attack."
Hezbollah denied it was responsible for the attack.
Where have talks to end the war been left?
17:00 , James ReynoldsTrump said the US was having "very good conversations" with Iran, even as Tehran closed the strait again on Saturday.
The reversal has left diplomacy uncertain, with just three days until the US-Iranian ceasefire is due to expire.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
State television also quoted the Supreme National Security Council as saying the US had put forward new proposals after talks mediated by Pakistan in recent days.
Tehran was considering them but had not yet responded, it said.
There was no immediate sign of direct talks taking place at the weekend, despite Trump saying on Friday that negotiations would take place.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
16:45 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
US preparing to board Iranian vessels, officials say
16:15 , James ReynoldsUS officials have told the Wall Street Journal that the US military is preparing to board ‘Iran-linked’ oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters within days.
The report emerged on Saturday as Iran reasserted itself in the Strait of Hormuz.
Intercepting Iran-‘linked’ ships in international waters would represent a widening of the conflict, which has been mostly contained to the Strait in recent weeks.
US demands have stalled talks, Iranian minister says
15:45 , Dan HaygarthIran is not ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with US officials, a senior Iranian minister has said, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
In an interview with the Associated Press on the margins of a diplomacy forum in Turkey, deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US, rejecting claims by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Mr Khatibzadeh said. "This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are non-starters."
On Friday, Mr Trump said the US will go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust", referring to the 970lb of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by American military strikes last year.
Mr Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the US of holding firm on demands Tehran deem to be excessive.
"We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position," he said.
Iran was seeking the finalisation of a "framework agreement" before moving to an in-person meeting, he added.
He would not go into specifics of the negotiations with the US or say which issues remain unresolved but called on Washington to address Tehran's concerns, including sanctions imposed on Iran.
"The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians and this economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran," Mr Khatibzadeh said.
Iran’s supreme leader warns of ‘new bitter defeats’ for US and Israel
15:20 , Dan HaygarthIran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said Iran's navy is ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on the US and Israel.
Read out on state TV on Saturday (April 18), a newsreader quoted a statement attributed to Khamenei saying, "The army stood against the sinister plans of the United States, the remnants of the Pahlavi regime, and separatists who wanted a dismembered Iran, and created epic achievements."
At least two merchant vessels reported they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, maritime security and shipping sources said, shortly after Iran said it was once again tightening control of the waterway.
Trump: 'Iran got a little cute but they can't blackmail us'
15:13 , Dan Haygarth
Asked about developments in the Strait of Hormuz today, Donald Trump said: "we have very good conversations going on".
He added: "It's working out very well - they got a little cute as they have been doing for 47 years.”
The president continued: "They wanted to close up the strait again, as they've been doing for years, they can't blackmail us.
"We'll have some information by the end of the day. We're talking to them, we're taking a tough stand."
Russia's state nuclear energy firm says ready to help with removal of enriched uranium from Iran
15:05 , Dan HaygarthThe head of Russia's state atomic energy company, Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said on Saturday that it is ready to help with the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, and that the company is closely following the progress of US-Iran talks
UN peacekeeper killed, three wounded in south Lebanon shooting, UNIFIL says
14:02 , Dan HaygarthA United Nations peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded after a UNIFIL patrol came under small-arms fire while clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the southern Lebanese village of Ghandouriyeh, the peacekeeping mission said on Saturday.
Two of the wounded peacekeepers were seriously injured, it said.
UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into what it described as "a deliberate attack."
France's President Emmanuel Macron said earlier a French soldier serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had been killed in the attack and blamed Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, urging Lebanese authorities to act against those responsible.
Lebanon's army condemned the shooting and said it had opened an investigation, while President Joseph Aoun offered condolences over the killing and ordered an immediate probe. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attack.
Voices inside Iran: Residents break internet blackout to describe life during ceasefire
13:15 , Dan HaygarthOn the 50th day of an internet blackout, Iranians under the surveillance of the IRGC for accessing the internet spoke at great risk to The Independent’s Maira Butt and Moha Tahery about their everyday lives amid a brutal crackdown, ongoing conflict and economic crisis.
Read below:
Voices in Iran: Residents break internet blackout to describe life during ceasefire
Watch: Trump says White House will 'have a party' when Iran war ends
13:00 , Dan HaygarthEgypt working with Pakistan on lasting US-Iran peace plan, minister says
12:45 , Dan HaygarthEgypt is working closely with Pakistan on a framework aimed at securing a lasting peace between the U.S. and Iran, foreign minister Badr Abdelatty has said.
He said Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were coordinating a broader regional effort focused on preventing renewed escalation and laying the groundwork for a post-war security arrangement, stressing the importance of protecting Gulf states and stabilising energy markets, supply chains and food security
Full story: UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
12:30 , Daniel HaygarthBritain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
Read more:
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Iran's supreme leader sends defiant message as vessels attempting to cross Hormuz report gunfire
12:11 , Dan HaygarthAt least two merchant vessels reported they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, three maritime security and shipping sources have told Reuters.
It comes shortly after Iran said it was once more tightening control of the waterway.
Earlier maritime trackers showed a convoy of eight tankers transiting the strait in the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.
But Iran then said it was reimposing strict military controls on the vital route, the conduit before the war of about a fifth of global oil trade, as the U.S. maintained its blockade of Iranian ports.
And in a defiant message posted on his Telegram channel, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's navy was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on its enemies.
Donald Trump hours earlier had cited "some pretty good news" about Iran, declining to elaborate. But he also said fighting might resume without a peace deal by Wednesday, when a two-week ceasefire expires.
Iran had announced its temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
But on Saturday Iran's armed forces command said transit through the strait had reverted to a state of strict Iranian military control, citing what it described as repeated U.S. violations and acts of “piracy” under the guise of a blockade.
The spokesperson said Iran had earlier agreed, “in good faith,” to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels following negotiations, but said continued U.S. actions had forced Tehran to restore tighter controls on shipping through the strategic chokepoint.
Tanker fired upon near Oman, maritime agency reports
12:00 , Dan HaygarthThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it has received a report of a tanker being fired upon by what it said "two gunboats linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)" 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, Reuters reports.
The captain of the tanker said the two gunboats opened fire without issuing a radio challenge, UKMTO said in its advisory note, adding that the vessel and its crew were reported safe.
Pakistan says Iran and US still moving towards deal
11:34 , Dan HaygarthDespite the escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani officials say the US and Iran are still moving closer to a deal ahead of the 22 April deadline for the ceasefire.
Foreign minister Ishaq Dar said the ceasefire in Lebanon was a positive sign, noting that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had been a key sticking point before talks in Islamabad ended "very close" to an agreement last weekend.
Pakistan is expected to host a second round of talks between Iran and the US early next week, the Associated Press reported.
The ceasefire in Lebanon could clear one major obstacle to an agreement, but it is unclear to what extent Hezbollah would abide by a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and which will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon.
Donald Trump said on social media that Israel is "prohibited" by the US from further strikes on Lebanon and that "enough is enough" in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
The State Department said the prohibition applies only to offensive attacks and not to actions taken in self-defence.
Shortly before Mr Trump's post, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel agreed to the ceasefire in Lebanon "at the request of my friend President Trump", but added that his campaign against Hezbollah is not complete.
Tankers moved through before Iran tightened restrictions
11:05 , Dan HaygarthA group of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers and several oil product and chemical tankers was passing through Iranian waters south of Larak Island with more tankers following from the Gulf, according to MarineTraffic data.
Iran had announced its temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
But on Saturday Iran's armed forces command said transit through the strait had reverted to a state of strict Iranian military control, citing what it described as repeated US violations and acts of “piracy” under the guise of a blockade.
The spokesperson said Iran had earlier agreed, “in good faith,” to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels following negotiations, but said continued US actions had forced Tehran to restore tighter controls on shipping through the strategic chokepoint.
Why Iran has closed the strait again
10:45 , Dan HaygarthIran said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce was announced between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
However, after Donald Trump announced the blockade would continue, senior Iranian officials said his announcement violated last week's ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US and warned the strait would not stay open if the US blockade remained
Cooper: 'We need the Strait of Hormuz open'
10:28 , Dan Haygarth
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday that Tehran had agreed to "the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz".
It added that the strait will remain under strict Iranian control if the US does not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from and to Iran.
The UK’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said the US-Iran truce needed to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway was urgent for the global economy.
"We need the Strait of Hormuz open ... because this helps all of our economies right across the world that are currently being held hostage," she said.
Cooper said more than 50 countries had backed efforts to support freedom of navigation, with over a dozen prepared to provide maritime support, including de-mining and reassurance for shipping, once the conflict ends.
She said there was still “considerable work to do” to turn the ceasefire into an enduring settlement and urged all sides to uphold the truce
Breaking: Strait of Hormuz closed again
09:43 , Daniel HaygarthIran has swiftly reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway after the US said the reopening would not end its blockade.
Tehran's joint military command said on Saturday that its "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state... under strict management and control of the armed forces".
It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports continued.
The announcement came the morning after President Donald Trump said the American blockade "will remain in full force" until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.
Hormuz will remain under strict Iranian control if US doesn't allow full freedom of vessels to and from Iran, IRGC says
09:16 , Dan HaygarthHormuz will remain under strict Iranian control if the US does not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from and to Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said.
Cooper: 'Iran must allow global shipping to resume fully'
09:14 , Dan HaygarthForeign secretary Yvette Cooper said on Saturday the Strait of Hormuz had yet to return to normal operations despite a ceasefire in the Iran war, and urged Tehran to allow global shipping to resume fully.
"We are at a critical diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place ... but we don't yet have normal passage through the strait", Cooper told Reuters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya.
She said the truce needed to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway was urgent for the global economy.
Vessels going through Strait of Hormuz, tracker shows
09:13 , Dan Haygarth
Friday saw first cruise ship pass through Strait of Hormuz since conflict began
08:53 , Dan HaygarthFirst cruise ship transits Strait of Hormuz since conflict began
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) April 17, 2026
The cruise ship Celestyal Discovery has become the first passenger vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict. The Malta-flagged vessel departed Dubai on 17 April after remaining docked… pic.twitter.com/3wR1P6Lc6G
Strait of Hormuz "will not remain open" if the US blockade continues, Iran says
08:31 , Dan HaygarthIran's speaker of parliament and senior negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on social media that the Strait of Hormuz "will not remain open" if the US blockade continued.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had announced on social media that the strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the 10-day truce that was agreed on Thursday by Israel and Lebanon, which was invaded by Israel after the Iran-allied Hezbollah militant group joined the fighting.
Iran has said all ships crossing the strait must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was not the case before the war.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement quoted by state television that military vessels and ships linked to "hostile forces" - the U.S. and Israel - were still not permitted to pass.
First major movement of tankers across strait since war began
08:20 , Dan HaygarthA convoy of oil tankers was crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the first major movement of ships in the crucial waterway since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran seven weeks ago, Reuters reports.
The group of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers and several oil product and chemical tankers, was passing through Iranian waters south of Larak Island with more tankers following from the Gulf, according to MarineTraffic data.
Donald Trump hours earlier had cited "some pretty good news" about Iran, declining to elaborate. He also said a ceasefire in the war may not be extended without a deal by Wednesday.
Iran reopened the strait, which before the war carried a fifth of the world's oil trade, following a separate US-brokered ceasefire agreement on Thursday by Israel and Lebanon.
Iranian leader threatens with closure of Strait of Hormuz
08:20 , Namita SinghIran's speaker of parliament and senior negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on social media that the Strait of Hormuz "will not remain open" if the US blockade continued.
Foreign minister Abbas Araqchi had announced on social media that the strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the 10-day truce that was agreed on Thursday by Israel and Lebanon, which was invaded by Israel after the Iran-allied Hezbollah militant group joined the fighting.
Vessel traffic data showed a group of around 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers and tankers, moving through the Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, but most ended up turning back, although it was not clear why. The group included three container ships operated by French shipping group CMA CGM, which declined to comment.
A cruise ship that was stranded in Dubai, the Celestyal Discovery, however crossed the strait and was headed to Oman on Saturday morning, according to Marine Traffic vessel tracking data.
Iran has said all ships crossing the strait must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was not the case before the war. The Defence Ministry said in a statement quoted by state television that military vessels and ships linked to "hostile forces" - the US and Israel - were still not permitted to pass.
Shipping companies have said they would require clarifications, including about the risk of mines, before vessels moved through the entry point to the Gulf.
The US Navy warned seafarers that the mine threat in parts of the waterway was not fully understood and said they should consider avoiding the area.