Reactions and statements from the international community
On April 18, 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the continuation of a "maritime blockade" against Iranian ports and coastal areas, releasing images of Apache helicopters over the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. combatant vessels in the Sea of Oman.
India's Foreign Ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to the country after an Indian ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz today.
An intelligence source in the region told Fox News that the Revolutionary Guards have full control of the Strait of Hormuz, with several vessels forced to turn back since morning.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has closed the Strait of Hormuz, preventing ships from passing through since morning. Fox News reports that the strait is now completely under IRGC control, causing many vessels to turn back.
Naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) used gunfire to repel two Indian ships from the Strait of Hormuz, blocking the passage route; one of the vessels was a VLCC supertanker carrying Iraqi oil. British maritime authorities reported that IRGC speedboats had earlier fired upon an oil tanker near Oman, resulting in no casualties.
The British Army announced that a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, 46 kilometers northeast of Oman, was targeted by an unidentified projectile, damaging several containers on board. Ship-tracking data shows the Strait of Hormuz now largely empty due to the Islamic Republic's closure, contrasting with earlier morning activity when oil tankers were passing through.
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei's senior is absent, leaving Mojtaba, who may be unconscious, unable to prevent internal conflicts among the IRGC, clerical leaders, and the regime's foreign ministry. Former US President Trump is reportedly exploiting the regime's internal divisions and power struggles.
Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, warned that Iran will respond with full force if war breaks out again, emphasizing the need for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and rejecting attempts to undermine diplomatic efforts. He also stated that Iran will not tolerate future sieges or dictation from other nations.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and opened fire on an oil tanker and an Indian vessel, forcing both ships to turn back.
Mohammad Reza Aref, the first deputy of Pezeshkian, stated that the Islamic Republic controls the Strait of Hormuz and will secure its rights through negotiations or by force. He also dismissed former U.S. President Trump's remarks as rhetoric and said the end of the war will coincide with the end of sanctions.
Hours after the IRGC announced intensified control over the Strait of Hormuz, at least two commercial ships were targeted by armed boats affiliated with the IRGC, including an oil tanker and a container ship, near Qeshm and Larak Islands, though no casualties were reported.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, supporting the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations' request at the Security Council.
