April 19: Iran tightens maritime control as US piracy continues amid fragile ceasefire

By Press TV Website Staff

On April 19, the maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz escalated as reports indicated that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy forced US forces to withdraw from the Sea of Oman following an incident involving an Iranian merchant vessel.

Iranian authorities stated that the move was a part of their ongoing response to America's unlawful blockade of their ports, with officials reiterating that control over regional waterways remains a central red line as tensions persist.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Iran will "soon respond" to US "armed maritime piracy" after American forces fired on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabled its navigation system, and boarded it with armed commandos.

Tehran maintained that its armed forces are operating at heightened readiness, with senior officials warning of rapid and coordinated responses to any further escalation.

Amid continued restrictions and countermeasures at sea, diplomatic channels mediated through regional partners remain active, even as the US signals contrasting positions on the evolving negotiations framework.

Key developments on day 51 of the war, twelfth day of the ceasefire:

• The IRGC forced US forces stationed in the Sea of Oman to retreat and leave the area after they fired at an Iranian merchant ship, a report said.
• Iran called the US blockade of its ports an unlawful act that violates key terms of international law, including the United Nations Charter.
• Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Iran will "soon respond" to US "armed maritime piracy" after American forces fired on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabled its navigation system, and boarded it with armed commandos.
• Iranian armed forces turned back two oil tankers sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran declared the strategic waterway closed again, following America’s “blockade” of Iranian ports.
• The commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, General Seyed Majid Mousavi, said the country’s capacity to replenish missile and drone launchers during the two-week ceasefire has outpaced pre-war levels.
• Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian hit out at US President Donald Trump over his threats, saying he is not in a position to deprive the Iranian nation of its inalienable right to a peaceful nuclear program.
• Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that any hostile actions against Iran or the Axis of Resistance will trigger a “chain reaction.”
• Families of Minab’s school victims called upon Pope Leo XIV to be “the voice of their voiceless children” and use his influence to press world powers for the opening of “all paths of dialogue” in the pursuit of lasting peace.
• The deputy director of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation said the country’s airspace would be reopened with flights from east to west established gradually. The aviation authority said Iran will resume international flights on Monday from Mashhad airport in the country’s northeast.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump resisted sending troops to seize the Iranian Island of Kharg, despite being told the mission could succeed, citing concerns over potential casualties, saying the American troops would be “sitting ducks” for Iranian armed forces.
• Trump told reporters that “We have very good conversations going on,” adding that Washington was “taking a tough stand” against Iran.
• In a post on X, CENTCOM said US forces were still enforcing the “blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas."
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad will remain fully committed to its efforts to promote peace and security in the region with the support of its friends and partners.
• A high-ranking member of the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement urged Trump to refrain from making incendiary decisions and respect the rights of Muslim nations, warning the US president and his allies of the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo and Islamabad hope to secure a final agreement “in the coming days.”
• ⁠Turkish ⁠Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Iran and the US have the will to continue talks to end the ‌war, and he remains “optimistic” that the two-week ceasefire would be extended.
• Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said Trump was forced into a war with Iran by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “in a feeble attempt to distract (the American) public from Epstein files.”
• A new poll by NBC News Decision Desk Poll found that two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation as well as the war against Iran, revealing emerging divisions within his Republican support base. 
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will call on the European Union to terminate its association agreement with Israel within 48 hours, citing repeated violations of international law.

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