Strait of Hormuz Will Not Be Opened During US Blockade of Iranian Ports

Iran has confirmed that it will not open the Strait of Hormuz while its ports continue to be blockaded by the United States (US). This was emphasised by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Quoted from detikNews on Thursday (23/4/2026), Ghalibaf described the blockade of Iranian ports as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire”. The blockade is being carried out by the US Navy.

“A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated through naval blockades (by the US); reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible amid this blatant violation of the ceasefire,” Ghalibaf said on X.

US President Donald Trump previously announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran. However, Trump also stated that the policy of blockading Iranian ports would continue under US military operations.

“I have directed our military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and capable,” Trump said, as reported by Al Jazeera on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

The US-Iran ceasefire was first implemented on 7 April and was set to end today before being extended by Trump. Trump stated that this extension of the ceasefire has no time limit.

“Therefore, we will extend the ceasefire until their proposals are submitted and discussions are resolved one way or another,” Trump explained.

Trump also alluded to the current Iranian government being divided. The US, according to Trump, is still awaiting the Iranian government to attend follow-up negotiations in Pakistan.

“Based on the fact that the Iranian Government is highly divided, which is not surprising, and at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to postpone our attacks on the Iranian state until the leaders and their representatives can submit a unified proposal,” Trump stated.