US President Donald Trump signs an executive order encouraging more research into ibogaine, next to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Joe Rogan, and Americans for Ibogaine CEO W. Bryan Hubbard, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., April 18, 2026. REUTERS
Iran said on Saturday that it was reviewing proposals from the United States as President Donald Trump said that “very good” conversations were ongoing between the two countries amid a temporary ceasefire in their hostilities.
Iran’s Press TV issued a statement on X from the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council that Iran was reviewing proposals from the US that were delivered by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during his visit to Tehran.
It said Iran had not yet given a response to them.
🔺Recently, with the Pakistani army commander in Tehran as mediator, new proposals have been put forward by the Americans. The Islamic Republic of Iran is reviewing them and has not yet responded.
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 18, 2026
Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz again today, warning mariners that the vital energy route was again closed, but President Donald Trump said Tehran could not blackmail the US by shutting the waterway.
Tehran said it was responding to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of the ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed from the afternoon until the US lifts its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy said remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the strait “have no credibility”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy issues a statement following claims made by US President Trump.
🔹 Iran’s IRGC Navy says that statements made by the US President have no credibility. pic.twitter.com/RemSWacggn
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 18, 2026
It said that following Iran’s earlier announcement allowing civilian vessels to transit the waterway, several ships passed through “with the coordination of the IRGC Navy”.
“However, in violation of the ceasefire agreement, the American enemy has not lifted the naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, so the Strait of Hormuz will be closed from this afternoon until the blockade is lifted,” the statement said.
The IRGC warned that “no vessel of any kind should move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” adding that approaching the strait would be considered “cooperation with the enemy”.
It also warned that any vessel violating the directive “will be targeted”. There was no immediate comment from US officials on the statement.
Separately, Trump said the US had “very good conversations going on” with Iran.
“We have very good conversations going on. It’s working out very well. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. Nobody ever took them on. We took them on,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
“They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no leaders. They have no nothing. Actually … it is regime change. You call that enforced regime change, but we’re talking to them,” he added.
“We’re talking to them … we’re taking a tough stand,” Trump said, adding: “We’ll have some information by the end of the day,” regarding the ongoing talks with Iran.
After finishing his speech, Trump did not take any questions regarding the conflict with Iran, negotiations or the situation on the Strait of Hormuz.
He also convened a White House Situation Room meeting to discuss the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations with Iran, Axios reported, citing US officials.
It added that “if there is no breakthrough soon, the war could resume in the coming days.”
The meeting reportedly included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Also present were White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.
According to the report, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated again despite progress in talks over Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Read More: Iran says no date set for next round of negotiations with US
Hostilities escalated since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
The war has been on hold since April 8, when Pakistan mediated a two-week ceasefire.
Washington and Tehran held talks in Pakistan last weekend, and efforts for another session in Islamabad are underway.
