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Today's Political News Compilation - Friday, April 17, 2026
AP Photo
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as the US maintains its blockade
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB, AAMER MADHANI and ELENA BECATOROS
Updated 10:44 PM CDT, April 17, 2026
BEIRUT (AP) — Iran said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but questions lingered Saturday about how much freedom ships actually had to transit the waterway as Tehran maintained its grip on the who got through and threatened to close it again if the U.S. kept in place its blockade of Iranian ships and ports.
Iran’s Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20% of the world’s oil is shipped, came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.
U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said the American blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program.
Asked by a reporter Friday night what he will do if there’s no deal when the ceasefire expires next week, Trump said, “I don’t know. ... But maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.” But he also told reporters accompanying him aboard Air Force One to Washington that a deal is “going to happen,” and flatly rejected the idea of restrictions or tolls by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had earlier celebrated the Iranian announcement, posting on social media that the strait was “fully open and ready for full passage.” But minutes later, he issued another post saying the U.S. Navy’s blockade would continue “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.” ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
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apnews.com
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apnews.com
Obama urges Virginians to vote yes on redistricting measure that could give Democrats 4 more House seats
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Trump says Iranians have "agreed to everything," including removal of enriched uranium
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www.cbsnews.comFACT FOCUS: RFK Jr. says the US is limiting measles outbreaks better than the rest of the world
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apnews.com
Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas not planning to retire this year, sources say
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www.cbsnews.com
Iran live updates: Iran pushes back on Trump's claims about agreement
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apnews.com
How the dispute between Trump and Pope Leo escalated
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British PM Starmer under new pressure to resign over U.S. ambassador appointment
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www.nbcnews.comMacron and Starmer welcome Hormuz reopening and push for permanent navigation security
France and the U.K. have welcomed the announcement by Iran and the U.S. that the Strait of Hormuz is open.
apnews.com
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