THE NEW YORK TIMES: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they were closing the strait until the U.S. blockade is lifted. Two ships reported being hit as they tried to pass through the strait.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on Saturday declared it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, the nation’s state media said, shortly after two Indian-flagged ships reported coming under fire while they were trying to pass through.
Just a day before, the Iranian foreign minister said it was reopened, according to state media. President Trump also said the strait was open but left in place an American blockade on ships from Iranian ports. That seemed to raise the ire of the Guards, who said Saturday the strait would remain closed until the U.S. lifted its blockade.
The back and forth added to the fear and confusion looming over a narrow waterway that has become the central focus in the effort to end the war.
On Saturday, India summoned the Iranian ambassador about what it called “a serious incident” involving two Indian-flagged ships that were fired on. TankerTrackers.com, a company that monitors oil shipments, said two Indian-flagged vessels sailing through the strait had turned around. Iran War Live Updates » | Lynsey Chutel, Euan Ward,Leily Nikounazar and Somini Sengupta | Saturday, April 19, 2026
