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Just as Trump was speaking at an event in Arizona on Friday evening, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf posted on social media platform X, stating that continued blockade would mean the Strait of Hormuz would not remain open. He emphasised that passage through the strait would occur according to a "designated route" and require Iranian authorisation.
Iran vs Trump over naval blockade
UPDATED: Apr 18, 2026 08:13 IST
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused former US President Donald Trump of making “seven false claims in one hour,” as he reiterated Tehran’s intent to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it calls a US blockade -- contradicting Trump’s assertion that the route remains “open for business.”
Qalibaf said that Trump made “seven claims in one hour,” all of which were “false,” without specifying what those claims were.
Just as Trump was speaking at an event in Arizona on Friday evening, Qalibaf posted on social media platform X, stating that continued blockade would mean the Strait of Hormuz would not remain open. He emphasised that passage through the strait would occur according to a "designated route" and require Iranian authorisation.
Qalibaf further noted that the status of the strait and its governing regulations would be determined by actions on the ground rather than social media declarations. This statement comes amid ongoing exchanges between US and Iranian officials on social media, with both sides using the platforms for significant announcements and exchanges.
In his post, Qalibaf mentioned that media warfare and shaping public opinion are crucial aspects of the conflict, asserting that Iran would not be swayed by such tactics. The Hill has contacted the White House for a comment on these developments.
Earlier, Qalibaf had stated that the Strait of Hormuz was open for business, but the US blockade persisted. This followed an announcement by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the strait would remain open for commercial vessels during the ceasefire.
The stock market reacted positively to these announcements, leading to a rally, while oil prices saw a 12 percent decline. However, Fars News Agency, an Iranian state news outlet, expressed skepticism over Araghchi's statement, describing it as unexpected and noting the confusion it caused in Iranian society.
President Trump shared his part of the announcement on Truth Social, followed by several phone interviews with news outlets. In a conversation with Bloomberg, he claimed that Iran had agreed to an "unlimited" suspension of its nuclear program, although Iranian officials have not confirmed this claim.
In another post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that Iran agreed to hand over its "nuclear dust," referencing enriched uranium. He also stated that Israel would cease bombing Lebanon, concluding with the remark, "Enough is enough."
- Ends
Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Apr 18, 2026 08:13 IST
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