Thursday, October 8, 2026

U.S. blockade to “remain in full force” despite Strait of Hormuz reopening, says Trump

Oil prices, which had soared as high as $111 per barrel, fell to $89 on Friday.

• April 17, 2026
U.S. President Donald
U.S. President Donald Trump [Credit: BBC]

President Donald Trump has insisted the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz will “remain in full force and effect” in spite of an announcement by Iran’s foreign minister declaring it “completely open.”

Until modalities for the reopening are completed, Mr Trump on Friday said the U.S. naval blockade will continue in the Gulf region.

“The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. leader assured that the transaction “should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated.”

At least 19 vessels attempting to cross the strait have been turned back since Washington activated the blockade earlier this week, with no ship successfully passing through the U.S. Navy cordon.

Despite the announcement of the strait’s reopening, energy companies are still wary of dispatching oil tankers through the strait.

Oil prices, which had soared as high as $111 per barrel, fell to $89 on Friday after Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi declared the strait open.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Nigerian farmers

Agriculture

Takum farmers seek improved security to boost food production

The land that fed families for generations is now empty. In villages like Tor-Lijam, Akaajo, Abunde and Akase, people are displaced and their farms are destroyed.

African leaders

Africa

UN unveils $78 million lifeline for Africa’s Great Green Wall

The new investment comes as desertification, drought and climate change increasingly threaten agricultural livelihoods across the region.

Bola Tinubu

World

UN cash crisis must not hurt developing countries, says Nigeria

Nigeria has warned that the United Nations liquidity crisis must not disproportionately undermine human rights assistance to developing and conflict-affected countries.

Chimaobim Igbojekwe and Janelle Stelson

Diaspora

ICE nabs Chimaobim Igbojekwe, campaign canvasser for Democrat Janelle Stelson, for illegal stay, public nudity

Mr Igbojekwe was caught in public with his pants off, fully exposing himself, in a residential neighbourhood near a park with residents, including children.

President Bola Tinubu

Economy

World Bank upgrades Nigeria’s growth outlook amid Tinubu’s reforms, urges job creation, poverty alleviation

It warned, however, that growth remained too weak to generate sufficient productive employment and significantly reduce poverty.

Euphoria 360 Hub

Showbiz

Actor Femi Adebayo unveils entertainment hub in Lagos

Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, on Tuesday unveiled an entertainment hub, a film and media production facility in Oregun, Lagos.