Strait of Hormuz: Open, closed, open, closed - What's actually happening?

AFP / France 24
by FRANCE24
April 18, 2026
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels, threatening to target ships.

How This Affects You

Continued closure and instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas transit route, could cause global energy prices to rise.

AI Summary

Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels, after briefly opening the crucial channel on Friday. Tehran stated that any ship approaching the straits will now be targeted, accusing the United States of "piracy" and maintaining a "blockade." This action creates significant confusion and instability for international shipping through the vital waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas transit, making its closure a major concern for international trade and energy markets.

Source Coverage Map

26 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

60% coverage
Did Not Cover (17)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP US News96ProPublica95Bellingcat95+12 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

OpenAI rips Anthropic, distances itself from Microsoft
Corporate

OpenAI rips Anthropic, distances itself from Microsoft

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/09/openai-100-billion-in-ad-revenue" target="_blank">OpenAI</a> is tightening its ties with Amazon, saying its early investor and partner <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/29/microsoft-openai-azure-deal-agi" target="_blank">Microsoft</a> was holding it back. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The ChatGPT creator is under pressure to keep pace with its competitors as the AI economy evolves and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/anthropic-openai-ipo" target="_blank">its potential IPO approaches</a>.</p><hr><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>OpenAI's recently established cloud partnership with Amazon Web Services has generated "frankly staggering" demand from enterprise customers, OpenAI's new revenue chief, Denise Dresser, said in an internal memo.</p><ul><li>"We are firing on all cylinders to establish this as a scaled distribution channel," Dresser said.</li></ul><p><strong>Friction point: </strong>Dresser wrote that Open...

AxiosApr 13
Trump family deal spree could open door for future presidents to profit from office - AP News
Government Transparency

Trump family deal spree could open door for future presidents to profit from office - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxQcjhGczRNNWkxX1NtcDQ4UzdUdGVKTXJKOTZqQ012aTE4NmJ4NVZ3VVMwZlFGM0h4aENub25GU2lxZkVzeUVjS2tBNkZQQV9vNTloVGZ1NEpNd05MVzFvNnM5c0NqS25LclZ3c2FLa3lieFhGWExpWndtaEhRMkRsamtLMU1MNV9iUlQzdUlJZlMtT25reThUWWQ2U0phR2JOc0dURHRWR3k?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump family deal spree could open door for future presidents to profit from office</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 13
Relaxation of US day-trading rules opens door to YOLO trading, higher risk - Reuters
Finance

Relaxation of US day-trading rules opens door to YOLO trading, higher risk - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxNNjBnU01zTjZORkRLUzVKLU9ySk1yVE5IUGRxOHlhWG1DN2lDNmhwRkFERjlKSnk2MTE5cFB3MTcybWpJWkE3QjgyYWZ2Ujdkc3FDYmRjbUdoR0gyUzJPMWhZWldRSnpnVzlNX20xTU1yZ3JnNW9ZU0tFczRVOHNTdEEtQUlBUmNpaXZqdmRSS2lSM2ROMFRNYl9kZHFDMUllSnJoTS1fWkhKVnBNZ0h0dHBIeDB0WUVvNnVEXw?oc=5" target="_blank">Relaxation of US day-trading rules opens door to YOLO trading, higher risk</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersApr 16
OpenAI focuses on business users amid competition with rival Anthropic
Corporate

OpenAI focuses on business users amid competition with rival Anthropic

OpenAI executives say they will introduce a new artificial intelligence model for "high-value professional work" as the company faces heightened competition with rival Anthropic in attracting corporate customers to adopt AI assistants in their workplaces.

PBS NewsHourApr 16
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announces it has found a buyer to keep the newspaper open - AP News
Corporate

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announces it has found a buyer to keep the newspaper open - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxQYjdralFDaS02OGJYMFlzb0dhVGdPTGRWdklyNVg3UmwySWVKbEpYdGg5Y0lWN3NZUThzeGNFeWp4SGlZVHNNY3NBOFpTdnU1ZVFzWHZhYm9ZQjB2VnEzbFQybUE2ejF0emdzZ3pDQ1BPSi02dmlDNGxTVFVDYk0ySXdvYVpvTXJUV2JlYldXY1d0bEFCbldCTjR1RGNDZmZtcExLejVn?oc=5" target="_blank">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announces it has found a buyer to keep the newspaper open</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 14
Discovery of unopened ballots prompts recount in SA seat One Nation won by just 58 votes
Politics

Discovery of unopened ballots prompts recount in SA seat One Nation won by just 58 votes

<p>AEC to recount votes in electorate of Narungga on Friday after Chantelle Thomas won the seat by just 58 votes at the March state election</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/apr/16/anthony-albanese-brunei-visit-fuel-crisis-labor-richard-marles-coalition-immigration-plan-angus-taylor-employment-figures-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>One Nation’s claim to the seat of Narungga has hit a snag weeks after the South Australian election.</p><p>Uncounted ballot papers were discovered on Thursday, forcing a recount in the Yorke Peninsula seat, which One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas won by just 58 votes.</p> <a href="https://w...

The Guardian World NewsApr 16
Read Next
Trump calls war on Iran a ‘little diversion’
Global

Trump calls war on Iran a ‘little diversion’

US President Donald Trump has described the war on Iran which has killed more than 2,000 people as a ‘little diversion’.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources