Defense

Trump says Iran keeping Strait of Hormuz closed to ‘save face’

Comments:

by Tara Suter - 04/21/26 10:56 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Tara Suter - 04/21/26 10:56 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

President Trump went after Iran over the Strait of Hormuz again shortly after announcing an extension of a ceasefire with Tehran.

“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” the president posted on Truth Social later Tuesday.

“People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.’ But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” he added.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump announced that he was extending the U.S. ceasefire with Iran until the Iranians come to the negotiating table with a proposal.

“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump said in a separate Truth Social post.

Last week, Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely” open after being largely closed since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran.

“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,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said on the social platform X.

Tehran said a day later that it was “resuming” strict control over the Strait of Hormuz during the American naval blockade in the important waterway.

Add as preferred source on Google