Middle East crisis live: Iran reopens strait of Hormuz but US blockade remains
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 5:50 PM · By Marina Dunbar (now); Vivian Ho, Taz Ali and Adam Fulton (earlier)
Iran reopens the strait of Hormuz during ceasefire negotiations, a move the US president praised on social media Oil and gas prices fall sharply after Iran says strait of Hormuz is open In case you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments in the Middle East to bring you up to speed. It’s 9am in Beirut and Jerusalem, 9.30am in Tehran and 2am in Washington DC. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect, pausing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has kil…