On 17 April 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that 'the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.' The announcement sent oil prices tumbling more than 10 per cent and prompted US President Donald Trump to post a celebratory message on Truth Social, calling it 'a great and brilliant day for the world.'
What followed, however, exposed a fracture at the heart of Iran's power structure. Within hours of Araghchi's declaration, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy broadcast a starkly different message — directly on international maritime Channel 16, the emergency frequency monitored by all vessels at sea. According to maritime intelligence monitor The Hormuz Letter, the IRGC Navy publicly called Araghchi an 'idiot,' stating the strait 'is still closed' and that it 'will open by the order of our leader Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiot.' The broadcast further warned that 'all vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass.'
