Iran has partially reopened its airspace, allowing international flights to pass over the country’s eastern region. The Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the airspace had been reopened for transit and that several airports resumed operations at 7 a.m. local time.

Despite the reopening, flight tracking websites indicated that more than three hours later, no international flights had yet crossed Iranian airspace. Several flights were observed taking longer routes to avoid the area, suggesting continued caution among airlines.

The report, citing The Guardian, did not specify the reasons behind the earlier closure or the partial reopening, leaving the broader context of Iran’s airspace restrictions unclear.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that the country could close the Strait of Hormuz if the United States maintains its blockade. In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf stated that vessels would require Iran’s permission to pass through the waterway. He led Iran’s delegation in recent talks with the United States held in Islamabad.

Ghalibaf added that decisions on whether the strait remains open or closed, and the rules governing its control, would be determined on the ground rather than through social media. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that commercial shipping through the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed that move but emphasized that the U.S. naval blockade on Iran would continue until the conflict is completely resolved.

The exchange underscores renewed tensions over the strategic waterway, which remains a critical route for global trade and regional stability.

Iran announced that it will no longer impose traditional transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz but may introduce new charges related to security expenses. The statement came from Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security Committee, who said the parliament is drafting a bill to define these security-related fees.

Rezaei explained that coordination with Iranian authorities will be mandatory for all vessels using the strait. He emphasized that military ships belonging to hostile nations, particularly the United States and Israel, will not be allowed to pass, while vessels from friendly countries may do so with prior coordination. He also stated that Iran will not accept any U.S. role in managing or securing the waterway.

Earlier, Iranian media outlet ISNA reported that official Mahmoud Nabavian mentioned some commercial ships would be permitted to cross the strait upon payment of a fee, citing Al Jazeera as the source.

Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping on Friday, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He stated on social media that all commercial vessels could now use the strait, provided they follow the safe lanes designated by Iran’s port and maritime authorities. The announcement coincided with a ceasefire in Lebanon, which Iran cited as part of its coordinated approach.

Despite the declaration, international maritime trade groups remain cautious and are assessing the safety of the route. Ship tracking data indicates that vessel movement through the strait is still very limited. Iranian state television later quoted a senior military official reiterating that only commercial ships may pass through the designated routes, while military vessels are prohibited.

The designated lanes are believed to correspond to two routes previously set by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week, reflecting continued control measures even after the reopening.

Iran’s Defense Ministry has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen only under specific ceasefire conditions. According to the semi-official Fars News Agency, ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik said that the passage will remain conditional and that military or enemy-linked vessels will not be allowed to transit through the strait.

The spokesperson described the current situation in the waterway as temporary, noting that if conditions in Lebanon change, Iran may again close the strait. The statement, reported by Fars and cited by Al Jazeera, highlights Iran’s linkage of regional developments to its control over the strategic maritime route.

The announcement underscores Tehran’s use of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic lever amid ongoing regional tensions, though no timeline or further details on enforcement were provided in the report.

Global oil markets saw a significant decline after Iranian officials announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial ships. On April 18, 2026, Brent crude and US oil prices dropped below 90 dollars per barrel, with Brent crude settling 9.1 percent lower at 90 dollars and 38 cents by the end of the day.

The development comes amid a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, though Washington continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that Tehran would close the Strait again if the blockade persists. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route through which one-fifth of the world’s crude oil is transported.

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran, disrupting shipping through the strategic waterway. The latest move to reopen the Strait has temporarily eased oil supply concerns but tensions remain high in the region.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed recent statements by US President Donald Trump as “completely false.” According to Al Jazeera, Ghalibaf made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, saying that all seven claims made by Trump within the past hour were untrue. He added that such falsehoods would neither help the United States win a war nor achieve progress in negotiations.

Ghalibaf warned that the Strait of Hormuz would not remain open if US sanctions continued. He stated that maritime traffic through the strait would operate only under Iran’s designated routes and authorizations, emphasizing that its regulations would not be determined through social media.

The exchange of conflicting statements between Iran and the United States has further complicated the already tense situation between the two nations.

Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran agreed to transfer its enriched uranium to the United States. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Tasnim news agency that enriched uranium is as sacred to Iran as its own soil and will never be handed over under any circumstances.

Trump had earlier asserted that Iran consented to hand over its uranium stockpile as part of an agreement, but Tehran has consistently denied the existence of any such deal. The uranium issue remains one of the main points of contention in U.S.-Iran discussions, with both sides maintaining conflicting statements that have left the situation unresolved.

The ongoing disagreement underscores the persistent mistrust between Washington and Tehran, keeping diplomatic progress uncertain as both nations continue to defend their positions on nuclear material control.

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.

Global oil prices dropped sharply on April 17, 2026, after Iran announced that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz was now fully open for commercial shipping. Following the declaration by Iran’s foreign minister, Brent crude fell below $90 per barrel, down from over $98 earlier in the day. The U.S. benchmark, Nymex Light Sweet Crude, also saw a notable decline.

Before recent conflicts, Brent crude traded below $70 per barrel, but prices had surged past $100 in early March and peaked at $119 later that month. The latest announcement reversed part of that upward trend, signaling relief in global energy markets.

Stock markets in Europe and the United States responded positively to the news. Paris’s CAC and Frankfurt’s DAX indices each rose by more than two percent, while London’s FTSE also gained modestly. In early U.S. trading, the Dow Jones increased by 1.3 percent and the S&P by 0.7 percent, reflecting renewed investor optimism.

Iran has announced plans to impose fees on certain commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian news agency ISNA as reported by Al Jazeera. Mahmoud Nabavian, identified as a member of Iran’s negotiating team, stated that only specific ships will be allowed to cross the strait, and only after paying the required fee.

Nabavian linked this decision to the ceasefire in Lebanon, though U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed the two issues were unrelated. Conflicting statements have emerged from both Washington and Tehran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations between the two sides.

No official written document of any potential agreement has yet been released by either party, leaving the details of the plan and its implementation timeline uncertain.

A senior Iranian military official announced that all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must now obtain permission from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The directive was disclosed in an interview with Iran’s state television. Another Iranian government official told Reuters that commercial vessels, including those flying the U.S. flag, will be allowed passage, but warships or naval vessels from any country will not receive authorization.

Tehran indicated that the move aims to maintain security and control over the strategic waterway, which is vital for global energy trade. The decision comes amid renewed tensions surrounding the strait, drawing international attention to Iran’s assertion of authority over the route.

The statement reinforces Iran’s position that while commercial trade will continue, it will not tolerate foreign military presence in the area, underscoring its firm stance on sovereignty and regional control.

Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain fully open to all commercial vessels during the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the decision on social media, stating that the move aligns with Iran’s support for peace and solidarity with the Lebanese truce. The permission for cargo and trade ships will remain valid for the duration of the ceasefire.

Despite Iran’s announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the existing naval blockade on Iran will remain in force. He emphasized that the blockade would not be relaxed until all aspects of a pending agreement with Iran are finalized. Trump expressed optimism that the process could conclude soon, citing progress in negotiations on most key points.

The statement came amid international efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts view Trump’s firm stance as a signal that Washington intends to maintain pressure on Tehran to secure a swift and comprehensive deal. The blockade continues to target Iran’s oil exports and broader trade activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has agreed never to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz again. He made the statement in a social media post, asserting that the waterway will never again be used as a weapon against the world. According to Trump, Tehran has consented to keep the strait permanently open for all commercial navigation.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported. Over the past decades, Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the route amid regional tensions. Trump’s claim, if accurate, would mark a significant shift in Iran’s stance and could ease long-standing concerns over energy security and global trade stability.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that confirmation of such an agreement could bring major stability to international energy markets. However, as of now, there has been no official confirmation from Iran regarding Trump’s statement.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran will not accept any temporary ceasefire, emphasizing that its goal is to end all wars across the region. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Khatibzadeh said any ceasefire must include all conflict zones from Lebanon to the Red Sea, describing this as a ‘red line’ for Iran. He insisted that the ongoing conflict should be brought to a complete end rather than paused temporarily. On the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that the waterway has historically remained open for international navigation despite being within Iran’s territorial waters.

He accused the United States and Israel of fueling instability in the region, saying their actions are harming global trade and the broader economy.