Trump Warns Tehran Over Strait of Hormuz 'Blackmail' as IRGC Fires on Indian Tanker

Iran reinstates the Strait of Hormuz closure and fires on an Indian tanker. President Trump warns Tehran that energy blackmail will not end the U.S. blockade.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters and Axios

Abrupt Reversal in Maritime Transit Policy

The Iranian military command issued a directive on Saturday morning reinstating total control over the Strait of Hormuz, less than 24 hours after diplomatic channels signaled the waterway would reopen. According to Reuters, maritime security and shipping sources confirmed that merchant vessels began receiving radio messages from the Iranian Navy stating that no ships were permitted to transit the passage. This reversal immediately halted a convoy of eight tankers that had been attempting the first major movement of energy supplies since the conflict began seven weeks ago.

Indian Crude Tanker Targeted by Kinetic Fire

The escalation turned violent when at least two vessels reported coming under direct fire from Iranian forces while attempting to navigate the narrow corridor. In Mumbai, government officials confirmed that an Indian flagged vessel carrying crude oil was attacked during its transit, prompting the Indian government to summon Iran’s ambassador for an emergency briefing. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also noted reports of gunfire 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, identifying the IRGC Navy as the source of the hostile activity.

Khamenei Issues Warning of 'Bitter Defeats'

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei amplified the regime's aggressive posture, stating that Iran's naval forces are prepared to inflict "new bitter defeats" on any nation attempting to challenge the blockade. Tehran’s armed forces justified the closure by accusing the United States of ongoing "piracy" through its continued naval blockade of Iranian ports. The Iranian leadership maintains that the 10 day ceasefire should have resulted in a total lifting of maritime restrictions, a condition that the White House has repeatedly clarified is not part of the current truce.