Iran condemned the United States for seizing its vessels and imposing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 18, 2026 [1, 2].
The escalation threatens one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, raising the risk of direct military conflict between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian officials said that the U.S. actions violate international maritime law. The Iranian government has called on the United Nations to formally condemn the blockade [1, 3].
"The United States is imposing an illegal naval blockade on Iran's ports and seizing our vessels," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani [1].
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) signaled a readiness to protect its maritime interests. "We will not tolerate any attempts to block our maritime routes," said IRGC commander Hossein Salami [2].
Tehran has indicated that diplomatic resolutions are currently stalled. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the government rejects the "excessive demands" of the U.S. and will not engage in new talks until the blockade is lifted [3].
Reports regarding the current status of the blockade vary. While Iranian sources describe an active naval blockade [1], other reports suggest the U.S. has threatened a blockade without yet implementing a full operation [4].
“"The United States is imposing an illegal naval blockade on Iran's ports and seizing our vessels,"”
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz underscores the volatile security environment in the Persian Gulf. By framing the U.S. actions as an illegal blockade and appealing to the UN, Iran is attempting to isolate the U.S. diplomatically while justifying its own potential military responses to maintain maritime access.
