Tehran Threatens ‘Reciprocal Measures’ If Washington's Blockade of Iranian Ports Continues

On 18 April 2026, Iran said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again over the US blockade of Iranian ports. Iran had reopened the strait, then reimposed restrictions, said the strait was back under the control of its armed forces and accused the US of violating a deal to reopen it. Iran's speaker Ghalibaf said Hormuz would not stay open under the blockade, and Tehran threatened 'reciprocal measures'. Ships reversed course, and the Associated Press reported that Iran fired on ships.

Trump said the blockade would remain until a deal with Iran is complete, said Iran 'got a little cute' by closing Hormuz again and said 'they can't blackmail us'. US forces turned 23 vessels back to Iran, US destroyers shadowed laden Iranian tankers, and the Wall Street Journal wrote that the US military was preparing to board Iran-linked ships within days. Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Iran's navy was ready to defeat US forces, and an Iranian military spokesman called the US actions 'maritime piracy'.