Trump thanks Iran for opening Strait of Hormuz as oil prices in freefall (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)

READ MORE: Middle East war triggering global energy ‘shock’ – IMF

The IMF has said that “oil‑producing countries in the Americas are benefiting from high energy prices,” but warned that in other countries the Middle East conflict is having “clearly negative” effects on economic activity and living standards, particularly for heavily indebted net energy importers.

IRGC spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari has said Iran “has not pursued nuclear weapons and is not pursuing them,” adding that the country “seeks peace with dignity” and will “firmly defend our territorial integrity and principles.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has reportedly rejected Trump’s claim that Tehran agreed to send its enriched uranium to the US. “Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances,” he said, as quoted by Tasnim news agency.

Journalist and international relations expert Elham Abedini has told RT that “Iran is the only actor, the only power who can guarantee the security and stability” of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that any US effort to “open” the waterway by force would only work in the short term and further raise energy prices.  

Abedini said recent ship movements “with the permission of Iran and with the conditions of Iran” show who really controls the strait, adding that “even traditional US allies” are refusing to join a “military coalition” against Tehran and that it would be “more logical” for companies to pay tolls to Iran than rely on Western naval pressure.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released footage it says shows US forces enforcing the naval blockade, stating on X the operation is ongoing.

Read more

What everyone got wrong about the Iran-US talks in Islamabad

The Trump administration is weighing a “renewed diplomatic push” that could send senior US officials back to Pakistan within days to resume talks with Iran, CBS has reported, citing sources familiar with the deliberations. Vice President J.D. Vance is reportedly being considered for a return trip to Islamabad, possibly alongside Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, as Washington seeks to revive back‑channel negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and conditions for ending the war that was launched by the US and Israel in late February.

University of Tehran Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi has told RT that “everything that Trump says is contradictory and often fake news,” arguing that the US troop buildup means “a high probability of war” despite the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.  

Marandi warned that limited ship movements “will not be enough to meet demand” and said Iran is preparing “24 hours a day” for a potential US offensive, adding that any major conflict would destroy Persian Gulf energy infrastructure and trigger a “global economic depression.”

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has mocked the announced “joint plan” by the UK and France to “protect freedom of navigation.” Responding to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s post on X, Dmitriev wrote that they are “bravely rushing in to open the Strait just as soon as it’s already open,” calling it an “impeccable sense of timing.”

MarineTraffic has published updated playback video showing ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on April 17 up to 15:00 GMT, illustrating vessel movements in the strategic waterway.

A full recovery of Middle East oil output could take months “once the Strait of Hormuz remains open,” with field restarts taking up to seven months, S&P Global has estimated. The firm said around 14.2 million bpd of supply has been disrupted by the Iran war and that OPEC’s March output fell to its lowest level since 1989.