Iran-Hormuz Strait/Closure
Iran-Hormuz Strait/Closure
Dateline : April 18, 2026/Recent/File
Location : Iran
Duration : 1'01
Beijing, China - April 19, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Screenshots of maritime security incidents near Strait of Hormuz released by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)
Strait of Hormuz - April 12, 2026 (IRIB - No access Chinese mainland/Israeli media/Persian language media outside Iran. Strictly No Access Iran International/BBC Persian/Radio Farda/Manoto TV)
2. U.S. destroyers being monitored
FILE: Strait of Hormuz - Date Unknown (NNC - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
3. Various of ships sailing in Strait of Hormuz
FILE: Strait of Hormuz - 2011 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
4. Iranian-flagged boat sailing through Strait of Hormuz
Tehran, Iran - April 8, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
5. Various of traffic, pedestrians, national flags of Iran
6. Military personnel
FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of White House
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, less than 24 hours after declaring it fully opened, with two vessels -- an oil tanker and a container ship -- coming under fire and turning back without completing the crossing.
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Iran had tightened control over the strait since Feb. 28, when it barred passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after the two countries' joint strikes on Iranian territory. The United States later imposed its own blockade on the waterway after peace negotiations with Iran in Pakistan's Islamabad collapsed.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the strait would remain "completely open" to commercial shipping during the current truce with the United States, in line with the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
However, Trump said Friday the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force," noting that the United States would not lift it until the country makes a deal with Iran. He then said Saturday that Iran cannot "blackmail" the United States with the strait.
Tehran says the waterway will remain under strict military control as long as the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports continues, calling the blockade "maritime robbery."
Only around a dozen tankers made it through before Iran reimposed controls, compared to the 100 ships that crossed daily before the war.
Three separate maritime security incidents involving commercial vessels were reported in waters near the Strait of Hormuz within three hours, according to the latest daily summary released by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency on Saturday.
UKMTO said the regional security environment remains volatile, with ongoing military activity continuing to pose risks to commercial shipping.
In the first incident, a tanker was approached by two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The master reported that the vessels opened fire on the tanker without issuing a prior VHF radio challenge. The tanker and all crew members were reportedly safe.
In the second incident, a container ship was struck by an unknown projectile about 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman, with several containers on board damaged. No fires or environmental impact were reported.
In the third incident, a commercial vessel reported seeing a splash in close proximity to the ship while transiting about three nautical miles east of Oman. No further details on damage or threat were immediately available.
The agency advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution.
Ship tracking data showed that approximately 10 vessels attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday but ultimately turned back after reaching waters near Iran's Larak Island following renewed restrictions. Most of these vessels were oil tankers, and many were destined for India.
ID : 8475440
Published : 2026-04-19 10:02
Last Modified : 2026-04-19 19:54:54
Source : China Central Television (CCTV),Other
Restrictions : See shotlist
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