Iran vows to close Strait of Hormuz if US blockade continues

What you need to know

• Iran says it will close Strait of Hormuz unless US lifts blockade
• US renews sanctions waiver for Russian oil

Here is a round-up of the latest developments on the US-Israeli war with Iran and the wider Middle East on Saturday, April 18, 2026:

US renews sanctions waiver for Russian oil

The United States renewed a waiver allowing countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products at sea for approximately one month.

The Treasury Department posted the license on its website late Friday, allowing countries to purchase Russian oil loaded on vessels from Friday through May 16.

The license is part of the Trump administration's effort to control global energy prices, which shot higher during the US-Israeli war with Iran and recently slightly dropped on news of a temporary ceasefire for peace negotiations.

It replaces a 30-day waiver that expired on April 11. The license excludes transactions involving Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would not be renewing the waivers for Russian and Iranian oil. The Iranian waiver is set to expire on Sunday.

US lawmakers from both political parties slammed the administration, saying the sanctions waivers would help the economies of Iran and Russia while they are at war with the US and Ukraine, respectively.

Tehran vows to close Strait of Hormuz unless US lifts blockade

Iran will close the Hormuz Strait again if the United States maintains a blockade of Iranian ports, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday.

"With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would be along routes determined by Tehran and depend on Iranian authorization.

The statement came hours after Iran announced ships would be allowed to transit the strait and after US President Donald Trump said his country would keep up its blockade until US and Iranian negotiators agreed to a long-term peace deal. 

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning and welcome to DW's Saturday coverage of the situation in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz was open following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

After Araghchi's statement, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for passage."

However, Trump stressed that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would stay in force until Washington reaches a deal with Tehran.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis.