Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said U.S. President Donald Trump “talks too much” while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. He made the comment in response to Trump’s recent threat that the United States might “start bombing again” if no agreement is reached by next Wednesday.

Khatibzadeh stated that the U.S. president’s remarks were self-contradictory and unclear about what he actually meant. He emphasized that Iran believes war cannot bring any positive outcome but asserted that the country is ready to defend itself if attacked.

He added that Iran would continue fighting “until the last Iranian soldier,” underscoring Tehran’s stance on self-defense amid rising tensions. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

The United Kingdom has called on Iran to fully reopen maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper made the appeal during a meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. She noted that while discussions to end the war are ongoing and a ceasefire is in effect, normal navigation through the strait has not yet resumed. Cooper emphasized that restoring maritime operations is essential for the global economy and urged that the current ceasefire be turned into lasting peace.

In response, Iran announced renewed restrictions over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Joint Military Command stated that due to continued U.S. naval blockades, the situation in the strait has reverted to its previous state. The IRGC also accused the United States of engaging in piracy-like activities under the guise of a blockade.

The developments highlight ongoing geopolitical friction in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, with implications for global trade and regional stability.

Iran has announced renewed restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued U.S. naval blockades. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint military command stated that the situation in the strategic waterway has reverted to its previous state due to what it described as ongoing U.S. obstruction. According to Iran’s state media, the IRGC accused the United States of engaging in piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a blockade.

The IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz is now under the armed forces’ strict management and control, with vessel movement limited as before. It warned that these restrictions will remain until full freedom of navigation for Iran-bound ships is restored. The announcement signals a renewed phase of tension in one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes.

Observers note that the situation raises concerns about potential disruptions to global energy flows, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a vital passage for international oil transport.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that 21 ships have returned to Iran since the start of the U.S. naval blockade. The announcement came as Iran declared that it had reopened the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels. According to CENTCOM’s post on social media platform X, the blockade began on April 13 at Iranian ports located in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the waterway would be closed if the United States did not lift its blockade in the region. Shipping companies have remained cautious about transiting the strait, and only a few vessels passed through the key maritime route on Friday.

The developments highlight heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, with both U.S. and Iranian actions affecting global shipping routes and regional stability.

Delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to meet for a second round of talks on Monday, according to a CNN report citing Iranian sources. The meeting is reportedly scheduled to take place in Pakistan, though US officials have not confirmed the timing. US President Donald Trump commented that positive developments are underway and mentioned Lebanon as part of the process.

Trump added that the process would move quickly since most issues have already been discussed and agreed upon. The first round of talks between the two sides took place on April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, but ended without any agreement.

The upcoming meeting follows the earlier inconclusive discussions, suggesting continued diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran despite the absence of confirmed details from the US side.

Analysts have interpreted U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent optimistic comments about a possible agreement with Iran as a sign of a real opportunity, though they caution that the situation remains uncertain. The remarks, reported on April 18, 2026, have drawn attention for suggesting that Trump may be sincere in seeking a resolution after years of tension between the two countries.

Mohammad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera that while Trump’s statements may be somewhat exaggerated, there are reasons for cautious optimism. He noted that Trump’s confident tone and continued efforts to find a solution could indicate genuine intent to reach a deal. However, Elmasry warned that the United States and Iran still differ significantly on key issues, and compromise would be necessary for progress.

Elmasry concluded that the current situation offers more questions than answers, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding any potential agreement.

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.