Summary

  • Our coverage on this page has ended. For the latest developments, head to our new live page here.

  • Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed from this evening until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted

  • It says the continuing US blockade is a "breach of the ceasefire" and warns that ships approaching the vital shipping channel "will be targeted"

  • On Friday, Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz, but Donald Trump said the US naval blockade "will remain in full force until our transaction with Iran is 100% complete" - here's how the situation has evolved

  • Earlier today, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran's leaders want to close the strait, but the US won't let them "blackmail us"

  • Three ships have reported attacks in the region, the UK Maritime Trade Operations says

  • It's hard to keep up with what's really happening in the Strait of Hormuz, writes our correspondent, and this casts doubt on Trump's claim of an imminent deal

  1. Cruise ship reports 'splash in close proximity' near Oman coast - UKMTOpublished at 15:16 BST 18 April

    The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says a cruise ship located three nautical miles off the east coast of Oman has reported seeing "a splash in close proximity".

    This comes after reports of attacks on a tanker and a container ship announced in the past two hours off the coast of Oman.

  2. Trump says he will not let Iran 'blackmail' USpublished at 15:01 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    U.S. President Donald TrumpImage source, Reuters

    Now, let's bring you some comments from Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

    He spoke briefly about Iran before taking questions from reporters at his executive order signing.

    He says there are "very good conversations going on" with Iran, and describes Iran as acting "a little cute as they have for 47 years".

    Trump says Iranian leaders want to close the Strait of Hormuz, but the US won't let them "blackmail us".

    The US is taking a tough stand, he adds.

    The president says there will be "some information by the end of the day" on Iran, but he did not take any direct questions about the conflict before the session ended.

  3. Iran says US naval blockade of Iranian ports is a 'violation of ceasefire'published at 14:57 BST 18 April

    Some more now from Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

    In a statement on social media, it says that "as long as the enemy intends to disrupt the passage of vessels and apply its naval blockade, Iran will view that as a violation of the ceasefire and prevent the conditional and limited reopening of the Strait of Hormuz".

    On negotiations to bring about an end to the war, the SNSC says that new proposals have been put forward by the US, which Tehran is "currently reviewing and has not yet responded to".

  4. Iran 'determined' to control Strait until end of war, security council sayspublished at 14:48 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top security body, has said on state TV that Tehran is "determined to enforce monitoring and control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz until the definitive end of the war and the establishment of lasting peace in the region".

    The statement says this will be done by collecting full information from vessels passing through, issuing transit certificates, and requiring payment of service fees for "security, safety, and environmental protection services".

    Trump has just spoken about Iran - we’ll bring you his comments soon.

  5. BBC Verify

    Two vessels turn back as IRGC denies access to Straitpublished at 14:37 BST 18 April

    While we keep an eye out in case Trump speaks about the Middle East, here's an investigation from BBC Verify.

    By Daniele Palumbo

    As the Strait of Hormuz started reopening, some vessels were forced to change their route.

    Two Indian-flagged vessels, the cargo ship JAG ARNAV and the oil tanker SANMAR HERALD, both received orders to change their travel routes as they were denied access to the Strait of Hormuz by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials.

    Tracking data from MarineTraffic shows the vessels slowing down and making a U-turn after passing Larak Island along the agreed route.

    The SANMAR HERALD also shows a draught of 21m, which indicates that the tanker is navigating with a full cargo of oil, likely from Iraq based on recent tracking data.

    It is not yet clear whether the SANMAR HERALD is the same tanker that came under fire as reported by the UKMTO.

    A ship's tracking data shows that it turned around in the strait of hormuz - a green and red line shows that it made a U-turn around Iran's Larak Shahri island.Image source, Marinetraffic
  6. Trump speaking to media nowpublished at 14:15 BST 18 April

    Donald TrumpImage source, Reuters

    US President Donald Trump is speaking as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office.

    At the moment, he's talking about drugs used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but he may also talk about - or be asked about - the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or other issues in the Middle East.

    We'll bring you any relevant comments as they come in.

    You can also watch live at the top of the page.

  7. Container ship hit by 'unknown projectile' near Oman - UKMTOpublished at 13:57 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    We've just had another update from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) about an incident reportedly 25 nautical miles off the north-east of Oman.

    They say a container ship has been hit "by an unknown projectile which caused damage to some of the containers".

    Authorities are investigating, UKMTO says.

  8. Unifil says patrol 'came under small arms fire' in Lebanon this morningpublished at 13:55 BST 18 April

    More now on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which came under attack in southern Lebanon this morning.

    In a statement, Unifil says one of its patrols "came under small arms fire from non-state-actors" while clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the south.

    The force is urging Lebanon's government to "swiftly initiate an investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes committed".

    As mentioned earlier, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says he has issued instructions for "an immediate investigation" into the attack.

    Salam did not say who was behind the incident.

  9. Macron says French soldier killed in Lebanonpublished at 13:29 BST 18 April

    French President Emmanuel Macron speaking at a press conference after a multinational coalition summit to facilitate shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the US-Iran war ends, at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Emmanuel Macron pictured giving a news conference about the Strait of Hormuz yesterday

    President Macron has posted on X saying a French soldier who was taking part in an international peacekeeping mission in Lebanon was killed this morning in the south of the country.

    Three other soldiers were wounded and evacuated during the attack against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil)'s peacekeeping mission, the French president says, and adds available information suggests that Hezbollah is responsible.

    He demands the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the alleged perpetrators.

    Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's prime minister, following a Bloomberg Television interview during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Lebanon's PM pictured in January

    Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has strongly condemned the attack on Unifil's French peacekeepers.

    "I have issued strict instructions to conduct an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances of this attack and to hold the perpetrators accountable," he says in a post on X.

    "It goes without saying that this irresponsible behaviour causes great harm to Lebanon and its relations with friendly countries around the world that support it."

    Salam did not elaborate on who carried out the attack.

  10. US says 23 ships have been turned back since blockade startedpublished at 12:52 BST 18 April

    US Central Command (Centcom) says it has forced 23 ships to turn around near the Strait of Hormuz since a naval blockade of Iranian ports was established.

    In a post on X, Centcom says American forces are still enforcing the blockade, which began on 13 April.

    Iran has said that it has closed the strait again in response to the continued blockade.

  11. Iran's supreme leader issues message, but doesn't mention strait or talkspublished at 12:34 BST 18 April

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    Latest written message attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been published by Iranian outlets today.

    In the message marking Army Day in Iran, there has been no explicit mention of two topics discussed by Iranian officials recently: the Strait of Hormuz and Iran-US negotiations.

    In one part, the message warns “enemies” that the Iranian navy is ready to make them “taste the bitterness of new defeats”, without further clarification.

    As in previous instances, this was a written message from Mojtaba Khamenei. He has not been seen in public since becoming supreme leader in early March.

  12. Ships received radio message from Iranian Navy that strait closed - reportpublished at 12:18 BST 18 April

    Some merchant vessels received a radio message from the Iranian Navy saying the Strait of Hormuz had been shut again, shipping sources have told Reuters.

    The Iranian Navy told the tankers that no ships are allowed to pass through the Strait, the sources add.

    As we've just reported, at least one tanker says it has come under fire in the strait by IRGC gunboats.

  13. Tanker comes under fire from Iranian gunboats, says UKMTOpublished at 11:55 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz says it has come under fire from two gunboats operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

    The incident took place 20 nautical miles off the north-east coast of Oman. The tanker and crew have been reported safe, UKMTO adds.

    Separately, at least two merchant vessels say they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the strait, three sources have told the Reuters news agency.

    A map showing the strait with a red circle identifying the area where the report has come fromImage source, UKMTO
  14. Analysis

    Iran's latest decision to close strait casts doubt on Trump's claim of imminent dealpublished at 11:22 BST 18 April

    Nick Beake
    Reporting from Jerusalem

    It’s hard to keep up with what’s really happening in the Strait of Hormuz.

    Iran’s latest message - issued via state media - is that the strait is effectively closed once again because the Americans haven't kept their side of the bargain.

    By that, Tehran means the US is still blocking ships going to or from Iranian ports.

    The Iranians are now saying we’ll be back to where we were a few days ago, with the strait being under the strict control of the Iranian military.

    We haven’t yet heard a response from the White House. That will surely come as Washington DC wakes up to this news.

    Certainly though, we’re not seeing what President Trump announced just yesterday - that the Strait is "completely open and ready for business and full passage".

    At the same time, he also claimed Iran had already agreed to pretty much all of his demands, including giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium - something Iran has denied.

    Trump also suggested a landmark deal with Tehran could be imminent.

    It doesn’t look like it with this latest move by Iran.

    Still, it’s hard to know if the maximalist media messaging on both sides is masking quieter, diplomatic progress behind the scenes.

    There remain some hopes there could be a second round of talks between the two sides, following the first marathon session in Pakistan last weekend which ended with no agreement.

  15. A flurry of Strait of Hormuz announcements in 24 hourspublished at 11:04 BST 18 April

    Jack Burgess
    Live page editor

    A ship crosses the strait of hormuzImage source, Reuters

    The last 24 hours has seen a whirlwind of major - but often contradictory - messages about the Strait of Hormuz from both the US and Iran.

    Here's a brief timeline of how the situation has changed since yesterday.

    Iranian FM declares Strait open: At about 13:00 GMT (14:00 BST) on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says on X that the Strait of Hormuz "is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire".

    Trump responds: Minutes later, Donald Trump posts on his Truth Social platform saying "THANK YOU!" but says the US naval blockade of Iran's ports will remain "UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE".

    France and the UK announce mission: UK PM Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron say that they will lead an international mission to protect freedom of navigation "as soon as conditions allow", following a virtual meeting with 40 other countries.

    Iranian parliament speaker calls Trump's claim "false": Hours later, at 22:14 GMT, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X that Trump "made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false". He says that, with the "continuation of the [US] blockade", the Strait "will not remain open".

    Shipping data shows some vessels crossing Strait: Data from tracking site MarineTraffic shows some boats apparently moving through the waterway on Saturday.

    Iran's military says Strait closed again: According to Iranian state media, at about 08:30 GMT, Iran's military says it is resuming its control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's military says the US did not fulfil its obligations and "passage requires IRAN approval", state broadcaster IRIB says.

    Vessels change course: Shortly after, we see ships tracked by Marine Traffic turning around and returning to their origin ports.

  16. Ships in the strait appear to change course after reports of closurepublished at 10:56 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    A map showing vessels in the Strait of HormuzImage source, MarineTraffic

    We've been keeping an eye on the latest data from tracking site MarineTraffic.

    Several vessels appear to have changed course since Iranian state media said just over an hour ago that Iran's military has closed the Strait of Hormuz again.

    One ship, the Minerva Evropi, appears to have turned around to head back towards its origin.

    A map showing the Minerva Evropi vessel changing course in the Strait of HormuzImage source, MarineTraffic
    Image caption,

    The Greece-flagged Minerva Evropi crude oil tanker is one of the ships that appears to have done an about turn

  17. Analysis

    Ceasefire appears to be holding in Lebanon so farpublished at 10:27 BST 18 April

    Nick Beake
    Reporting from Jerusalem

    There’s been a barrage of noise on social media, as President Trump and the Iranians continue to fire out verbal volleys.

    But crucially, there's no sound of fighting - for now.

    It’s clear the ceasefire between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has unlocked some sort of impasse, if not the Strait of Hormuz.

    The initial Iranian promise to open the strait to commercial vessels came right after the Lebanon ceasefire was agreed. Trump continues to claim a truce in Lebanon has no link whatsoever to his wider talks with Iran.

    Lebanese state media have reported that an Israeli strike on a motorcycle in the south killed one person, despite the ceasefire.

    Under terms of the truce released by the US, Israel is not supposed to carry out offensive military action but retains the right to respond "at any time" against "planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks".

    But so far, the ceasefire appears to be holding in Lebanon.

    And that can only help the wider effort to bring a deal between the US and Iran - even if an agreement is in fact much further off than President Trump claims.

  18. Internet outage in Iran enters 50th daypublished at 10:06 BST 18 April

    A graphic shows the internet connectivity in Iran dropping from nearly 100% to nearly zero at the beginning of the war and then staying at the same level until the current dateImage source, NetBlocks

    While we wait for more clarity about the situation in the strait, let's turn our attention to what's happening on the ground in Iran.

    A government enforced digital blackout in Iran has entered its 50th day, according to internet monitoring site NetBlocks.

    In a post on X, NetBlocks explains Iran has been isolated from the global internet for seven weeks and that the blackout is "unprecedented" for a connected society.

    Ordinary citizens paying high costs to stay connected in Iran, including those using satellite internet such as Starlink, or connections routed through it.

    Internet access via Starlink is being sold at around $6 (£4.50) per gigabyte - a high price in a country where the average monthly salary is estimated to be between $200 and $300.

    Using Starlink in Iran can lead to up to two years in prison, and authorities have reportedly confiscated hundreds of devices since the war began.

  19. Iran's military closes Strait of Hormuz again - state mediapublished at 09:38 BST 18 April
    Breaking

    Iran's military says it is resuming its control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

    The Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Iranian Students News Agency and state broadcaster IRIB cite a statement from the IRGC saying that the strait will return "to its previous state", with armed forces controlling the area.

    We previously saw some shipping vessels transiting the waterway - but it's unclear how much marine traffic has made it through the critical shipping lane.

    The military statement accuses the US of "piracy", saying that its "so-called blockade" amounts to maritime robbery. Iran previously said that it would shut the strait if the US continued its blockade of its ports.

  20. Trump still seems to believe he can do a deal within days with Iranpublished at 09:28 BST 18 April

    Lyse Doucet
    Chief international correspondent, in Iran

    President Trump likes short, sharp, successful deals.

    He seems to believe that even with Tehran, after 47 years of enmity, that he can do a deal within days.

    But for Iran these are major concessions and it will take time, political will and compromises to sort them out.

    One point of hope is that there does seem to be progress on what would be a memorandum of understanding to pave the way for more talks.

    It wouldn't be the grand bargain, but it would be a significant step.

    The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is reporting from Tehran on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service. These restrictions apply to all international media organisations operating in Iran.