Iran’s word lasted less than 24 hours.
On Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to social media to declare the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to commercial shipping. It was supposed to be a goodwill gesture tied to the ceasefire in Lebanon. The headlines ran everywhere. The markets exhaled for about five minutes.
Then Saturday morning happened.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on commercial tankers trying to transit the Strait. Multiple vessels, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, were forced to turn around after taking fire. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the attack, saying the tanker and crew were safe but noting the IRGC boats gave no warning over radio before firing.
Here was Iran’s Foreign Minister making the declaration just one day earlier:
In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 17, 2026
So much for “completely open.”
Iran’s military command then put out a statement confirming the reversal. They announced that control of the Strait of Hormuz had “returned to its previous state” under “strict management and control of the armed forces.” Their reason? They accused the United States of “piracy” for maintaining the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The Associated Press reported on the escalation Saturday morning:
Two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Iran said it has reimposed restrictions on the vital waterway.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the tanker and crew were reported safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination. The incident took place 20 miles northeast of Oman.
TankerTrackers.com reported vessels were forced to turn around in the strait, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, after they were fired on by Iran.
This is the same regime that, 24 hours prior, told the world the Strait was safe for business. You cannot make this up.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has not flinched. U.S. Central Command posted this update on the American blockade of Iranian ports:
Guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) directs a merchant vessel to return to an Iranian port as it enforces the U.S. blockade, April 17.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 17, 2026
Since commencement of the blockade, 19 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return to Iran.… pic.twitter.com/v4dhGw8wUH
That number has now climbed to 23 ships turned around, according to CENTCOM’s latest update. The blockade, which began last Monday with over 10,000 U.S. sailors, Marines, and airmen enforcing it, remains fully operational.
CBS News provided additional context on the reversal:
Iran’s joint military command said that “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 U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said that the strait was “returning to the status quo,” which he had earlier described as ships requiring Iranian naval authorization and toll payment before transiting.
So now Iran is demanding “toll payments” from commercial vessels passing through international waters. Think about that for a second.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply. Every time Iran plays games with it, gas prices spike for American families. President Trump warned this would happen if Iran didn’t negotiate in good faith, and he’s been proven right every step of the way.
Despite the chaos, Pakistani officials say the U.S. and Iran are still moving toward a deal before the April 22 ceasefire deadline. Whether Tehran can be trusted to honor any agreement at this point is another question entirely.
