The Strait of Hormuz closes again: Iran says the U.S. has not fulfilled its obligations, Trump says “there’s good news,” and as the ceasefire period ends without an extension, there are fears of renewed bombings

The situation has reversed again. On April 19, Iran’s state radio and television (IRIB) posted on X announcing that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, as the U.S. has failed to meet the corresponding obligations in the bilateral agreement; vessel passage must be re-approved by Iran. Just one day earlier, along with the White House, Iran’s foreign minister also jointly announced that the strait would be fully reopened.

Iranian state media: The U.S. did not fulfill its obligations

In its statement, IRIB said: “Iran agrees to allow a limited number of vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under the agreement. But since the U.S. did not fulfill its obligations, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again, and passage must be approved by Iran.” When Iran’s foreign minister, Aragchi, previously announced the opening, he had mentioned that vessels must pass through the “coordinated routes” published by Iran’s maritime authorities, and it is clear that there is a disagreement between the U.S. and Iran on this.

Trump: “Good news 20 minutes ago,” negotiations continue through the weekend

Meanwhile, CNBC reported that on Air Force One on his return to Washington, Trump told reporters traveling with him: “We received some very good news 20 minutes ago. The situation in the Middle East and Iran appears to be progressing very smoothly. We’ll know the outcome in a little while; our negotiations this weekend are still ongoing.”

Nuclear-weapons materials are at the heart of the core dispute in the talks

Trump revealed that one of the biggest points of disagreement in the negotiations right now is the issue of the disposition of materials for Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He said the U.S. position is: “We will go into it with Iran together, take it out together, and bring back 100% to the United States,” and he emphasized that “it will be carried out after the agreement is signed.” This indicates the U.S.’s intention to completely remove Iran’s nuclear weapons materials stockpile.

The ceasefire expires on Wednesday; Trump hints at not extending it, fearing a bomber restart

The two-week ceasefire will expire this Wednesday. Trump said clearly that the blockade will remain unchanged, and hinted that the ceasefire may not be extended: “Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade will continue. If we don’t extend it, unfortunately, we will have to start dropping bombs again.” Last weekend, talks between a U.S. delegation led by Vice President Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker Ghalibaf in the Pakistani city of Islamabadabad did not reach an agreement.

With the situation highly volatile, in the past 24 hours the Strait of Hormuz has gone through a reversal of “open → closed again,” and both the energy market and diplomatic negotiations face a key stress test before this Wednesday’s ceasefire deadline.

This article Hormuz closes again: Iran says the U.S. did not fulfill its obligations; Trump says “there’s good news”; if the ceasefire period expires without an extension, fears of a bombing restart was first published on Chain News ABMedia.