Iran has warned that it will respond if the United States continues to enforce a blockade around Iranian ports. The warning came after US President Donald Trump announced that the blockade would remain in place, despite Tehran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz would stay open. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on April 18, 2026.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei issued the warning through a post on social media platform X, saying Tehran would be compelled to take action if Washington persisted with the blockade. He also clarified an earlier post by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, though details of that clarification were not elaborated in the report.

The exchange underscores renewed tension between Tehran and Washington over maritime access and regional security, particularly around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.