Iran’s military reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, directly contradicting President Donald Trump’s claims that the critical waterway was fully open and would “never” close again.
Key Takeaways:
Iran re-imposed Strait of Hormuz controls on April 18, 2026, blaming the U.S. blockade and accusing Trump of making 7 false claims. Brent crude rebounded toward $94-$96 per barrel after dropping 9% on April 17, whipsawing oil futures markets. Bitcoin pulled back to the $75,800-$77,100 range after briefly clearing $78,000 on April 17, Strait reopening news. U.S. Blockade Blamed as Iran Shuts Strait of Hormuz Less Than a Day After ReopeningBoth governments have now staked out public positions that leave little room for quiet resolution. Trump frames the situation as progress toward a nuclear deal. Iran frames Trump’s version of events as fiction. The waterway carrying a fifth of the world’s energy supply sits in between.
