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Iran navy chief calls US blockade ‘piracy,’ says it only harms Trump allies

Apr 17, 2026, 18:50 GMT+1

Iran’s Navy commander Shahram Irani dismissed the US naval blockade as “piracy and banditry,” saying commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues despite American warnings.

“What this person (Trump) calls a naval blockade is nothing but banditry and piracy,” Irani told the state TV.

“Others need the Strait of Hormuz... He has blockaded his own friends, not us.”

He added that vessels complying with what he called "established norms and international maritime practices" continue to pass through the strait daily.

“Every day, ships that follow the rules and understand international norms are transiting. Even when the US issues warnings, they do not listen to it,” he said.

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Iran says it still controls Hormuz transit, warns of response to US blockade

Apr 17, 2026, 18:21 GMT+1

Iran’s foreign ministry said on Friday transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains under the Islamic Republic's control and subject to its coordination, warning that any continued US naval blockade would violate the ceasefire and prompt a response.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has “no new agreement” on the reopening of Hormuz, stressing that current arrangements for shipping in the Strait are based on the April 8 ceasefire understanding with the United States.

He said Iran had pushed for the ceasefire to extend to Lebanon, adding that the Strait was reopened once a truce was reached overnight after “significant efforts from various sides.”

Baghaei reiterated that Iran’s commitments remain unchanged, including allowing commercial vessels to transit the strait “in coordination with Iran,” along routes designated by Iranian authorities and under the supervision of relevant bodies.

He also dismissed what he described as conflicting narratives from the opposing side, urging media and the public not to be swayed by what he called a “media game.”

“Iran is the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that Tehran would not hesitate to implement measures necessary to protect its national interests.

“If the other side chooses to break its commitments—which it appears it intends to do—and if the naval blockade continues, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the necessary reciprocal measures. There is no doubt about that,” he said.

State media slam Araghchi's Hormuz tweet, say it let Trump claim victory

Apr 17, 2026, 17:55 GMT+1

Iran's state media issued rare and sharply worded criticism of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the negotiating team after he declared the reopening of Hormuz Strait on X, saying the move created confusion and gave Trump an opening to claim victory.

Araghchi's post was widely criticized by hardliners and their outlets, including the state-run Mehr News which said Araghchi's tweet "provided the best opportunity for Trump to go beyond reality, declare himself the winner of the war and celebrate victory."

"It is clear that ceasefire-related negotiations are not being handled solely by the Foreign Ministry. Therefore, it is natural that under these circumstances the entire team should collectively explain the decisions that have been made," Mehr News said.

Tasnim News Agency described the post as a “bad and incomplete tweet that created misleading ambiguity about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."

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File photo shows Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on an Army warship in the Persian Gulf in December 2024
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File photo shows Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on an Army warship in the Persian Gulf in December 2024


State media slam Araghchi's Hormuz tweet, say it let Trump claim victory

Apr 17, 2026, 17:40 GMT+1

Iran's state media issued rare and sharply worded criticism of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the negotiating team after he declared the reopening of Hormuz Strait on X, saying the move created confusion and gave Trump an opening to claim victory.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Araghchi announced in a post on X on Friday.

Minutes later, US President Donald Trump said "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran [sic] is fully open and ready for full passage."

Araghchi's post was widely criticized by hardliners and their outlets, including the state-run Mehr News which said Araghchi's tweet "provided the best opportunity for Trump to go beyond reality, declare himself the winner of the war and celebrate victory."

"It is clear that ceasefire-related negotiations are not being handled solely by the Foreign Ministry. Therefore, it is natural that under these circumstances the entire team should collectively explain the decisions that have been made," Mehr News said.

Tasnim News Agency described the post as a “bad and incomplete tweet that created misleading ambiguity about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."

The IRGC outlet said the announcement lacked “necessary and sufficient explanations” about the conditions, mechanisms and restrictions governing vessel transit, prompting widespread questions.

Fellow IRGC outlet Fars News Agency earlier quoted an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council as saying that the Strait's reopening was subject to three conditions:

"Ships must be commercial. The passage of military vessels is prohibited, and neither the ships nor their cargo may be linked to hostile countries. Vessels must pass through routes designated by Iran, and transit must be coordinated with Iranian forces responsible for managing passage."

The source said Iran considers the continuation of a US naval blockade as a violation of the ceasefire and would close the Strait of Hormuz again if the blockade is not lifted.

Tasnim said Araghchi's post on X lacked "any verbal explanation or at least sufficient written clarification” which it said amounted to “complete poor judgment in communication."

The outlet urged either the Foreign Ministry to revise its approach or the Supreme National Security Council to step in and impose a more coherent messaging framework.

The criticism was echoed by Fars News Agency, which addressed authorities directly and questioned their silence.

“Officials, at least explain the reason for your ‘lack of explanation,’” Fars wrote, warning that the absence of clear communication had left the public in a “state of confusion.”

It added that "while citizens trust officials to uphold national red lines, they still expect transparency about why details are being withheld."

Fars also cautioned that without clear messaging, “the narrative of the enemy and hostile media” could fill the gap, adding that “this ‘lack of explanation’ itself needs explanation.”

Trump says US to 'go in with Iran' to recover uranium stock, bring it to US

Apr 17, 2026, 17:08 GMT+1

The ⁠United States will work ‌with Tehran to recover its enriched uranium and bring ​it back to ‌the United States, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday.

"We're going to get it together. ‌We're going to go in with Iran, at ⁠a nice leisurely pace, and go ‌down ​and start excavating with big ​machinery... We'll bring ⁠it back to the ‌United States," Trump said ​in a phone interview.

The US president said the nuclear "dust" would ​be retrieved "very soon."

Trump negotiating with Iran himself, got ‘loud’ on recent call, Graham says

Apr 17, 2026, 16:22 GMT+1

"President Trump is directly talking to the Iranians. He is negotiating himself," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News.

"He was on the phone with the Iranians a couple of days ago, and it got rather sporty to the point that President Trump loudly told Iran what would happen if they keep playing games. He actually lost his voice," Graham, an ally of Trump, said.

"I'd hate to be the Iranian on the receiving end of that. So President Trump is now directly involved in the negotiations."