18 April 17:18 to 23:07, six hours

Six major news stories US and Iran Hormuz

From the evening of April 18 to late at night, within just six hours, the struggle between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz suddenly escalated, pushing global oil markets to the brink. Iran played four tough cards: "refusing negotiations, military control, suspending flights, leader’s speech," while the US responded directly with "inspection and seizure of commercial ships," accelerating a confrontation where both sides blinked first in the Persian Gulf.

17:18——Negotiation doors closed

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency was the first to drop a major news: Iran has not agreed to hold the next round of negotiations with the US. This decision directly stems from US President Trump’s announcement of a maritime blockade against Iran, and the US side’s recent demands for "excessive requirements" during exchanges. The world had hoped that the 21-hour marathon negotiations in Islamabad could break the deadlock, but hopes suddenly cooled at this moment.

18:39——Strait effectively closed

Tracking data then revealed a harsh reality: about 10 ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz were forced to turn back. Most of these were oil tankers that changed course after reaching waters near Larak Island, Iran. The day before, Iran’s Foreign Minister had announced the opening of the strait to commercial ships, but the military had tightened controls again due to the US "repeatedly breaking promises." The world’s most important oil valve was once again tightened.

19:13——Aviation industry hits pause

The tense situation quickly spread to civilian sectors. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization announced a nationwide suspension of ticket sales, with all flights—domestic and international—requiring individual approval. Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed that some airspace and multiple airports reopened, but the tightening of flight permissions signaled that the clouds of war had already cast a shadow over the skies.

21:16——Supreme leader issues war cry

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei issued a written statement on Army Day, with unprecedentedly tough language. He declared that the Iranian Navy was fully prepared, "ready at any moment to deliver a new defeat to the enemy," emphasizing that the military would bravely defend the territory, "launching fierce strikes against the US and Israel, exposing their weakness and shamelessness to the world." This was not diplomatic rhetoric but a clear signal of war mobilization.

21:56——Control of the strait "until the war is completely over"

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council then issued an official statement: Iran is determined to control the passage of the Strait of Hormuz until the war is over and regional peace is achieved. More critically, the scope of control explicitly includes collecting fees related to security, safety, and environmental protection services. This means Iran has upgraded the "toll fee" system from a temporary strategy to a national policy, potentially generating hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

23:07——US military reveals its hand

The US responded in the late night with a final move. The