Just a day after President Donald Trump and Iran officials both announced that traffic was resuming through the Strait of Hormuz, a key path that carries some 20% of the world’s oil supplies, Iran has reversed course.
It announced heading into the weekend that the “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”
The rogue Islamic regime is protesting Trump’s continued blockade of its ports, a move that was designed to apply pressure on Iran to reach a longer term agreement that would provide, after decades of instability because of its worldwide sponsorship of terror, some level ground.
The reopening had been conditioned on a ceasefire between Hezbollah, in Lebanon, and Israel, and Trump has just announced that was beginning.
At Not the Bee came the comment, “We’re back at a stalemate it would appear. … The deal didn’t even last 24 hours and Iran has reversed course, reimposed sanctions, and closed the strait once more.”
Iran said it would hold its position “as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect,” the report said.
The “Operation Epic Fury” campaign originally was launched just weeks ago with the goal of making sure Iran’s threats against the world, through its program to build and use nuclear missiles, would end.
Trump’s initial reaction was, “We’ve been pushed around by Iran for 47 years, but not anymore.”
He had suggested just hours earlier that there were a long list of options for the U.S.
President Trump says the U.S. won’t be pushed around by Iran anymore:
“We’ve been pushed around by Iran for 47 years, but not anymore.” pic.twitter.com/f5fvsUn2Py
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 18, 2026
Littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) patrols the Arabian Sea during the U.S. blockade. Since commencement of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around. American forces are enforcing a maritime blockade against ships entering or… pic.twitter.com/PMIBOoeJXS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 18, 2026
BREAKING: Dozens of ships are making U-turns in the Strait of Hormuz, heading back into the Persian Gulf after surging toward it following Araghchi’s “completely open” declaration, per MarineTraffic data.
Iran had warned earlier today that the opening would be “practically… pic.twitter.com/e04F1tOC8z
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) April 17, 2026
🇮🇷🇺🇸 Ships begin to turn around after approaching Strait of Hormuz.
It follows the IRGC’s announcement that the Strait would “return to its previous state” after the U.S refused to lift its blockade of Iran’s ports.
Less than 24 hours after it was reopened, it’s being closed… https://t.co/YNFhTLVirh pic.twitter.com/xJGjzh5fMt
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 18, 2026
BREAKING: Iran has reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the U.S. of violating deal to reopen it. https://t.co/foWYGwgwhD
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 18, 2026
The The Washington Examiner said Iran’s announcement was from parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, reversing the statement earlier from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
