Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and sanctions
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf sets conditions for reopening the waterway after a ship was hit by an unidentified projectile
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

Strâmtoarea Ormuz, blocată. Foto: Profimedia
Photograph: Digi 24 (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the US meets conditions in a June memorandum of understanding, including lifting a naval blockade and sanctions.
- A ship transiting the strait was hit by an unidentified projectile, causing at least one casualty and engine room damage. The crew is under Omani coast guard protection.
- Ghalibaf listed four demands: ending the naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets, lifting oil sanctions and halting military operations.
- Donald Trump told Fox News he would bomb Oman if it obstructed a Hormuz-related agreement, though Oman and Iran have held talks without US involvement.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 29 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 18 of the 47 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
78/100
Craft
65/100
Hype
15/100
47 sources · methodology
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on 18 August 2026 that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfils commitments under a June memorandum of understanding. Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, said the waterway would not reopen until Washington lifts its naval blockade, releases frozen Iranian assets, ends oil sanctions and halts military operations.
On the same day, a ship transiting the strait was struck by an unidentified projectile. The attack caused at least one casualty and damaged the engine room, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The crew is under the protection of the Omani coast guard, and no environmental damage has been reported. An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the projectile.
In a separate development, former US president Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he would bomb Oman if the country obstructed an agreement related to the Strait of Hormuz. Oman and Iran have held discussions about the waterway without US participation.
What the coverage left out
None of the right-rated digests mentioned the attack on the ship in the Strait of Hormuz. None of the right-rated digests reported Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Oman. The left-rated digests did not carry the detail that the crew of the attacked ship is under Omani coast guard protection.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 4 times, most recently on 18 Aug 2026, 12:46, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
8 rated outlets
- All five left-rated digests led on Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Vanguard News and Al-Monitor included Ghalibaf’s full list of demands: lifting the naval blockade, releasing frozen assets, ending oil sanctions and halting military operations. Cumhuriyet and La Presse framed the closure as an ultimatum to the US. TVA Nouvelles carried the same four demands but did not mention Trump’s threat to bomb Oman.
Centre
7 rated outlets
- The five centre-rated digests focused on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the attack on the ship. Reuters, Euronews and WTVB reported Ghalibaf’s statement that the waterway would stay shut until the US meets the June agreement’s conditions. Digi24, the only centre-rated outlet with a full report, quoted Ghalibaf directly: “the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened as long as the American commitments (...) are not implemented.” It also carried Trump’s threat to bomb Oman. Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija did not mention the attack on the ship.
Right
14 rated outlets
- Nine of the eleven right-rated digests led on Iran’s refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets its demands. Anadolu Ajansı and The Nation listed all four conditions Ghalibaf set. The Straits Times and Tribune India reported the closure but did not specify the demands. Globo included a brief explanation of the strait’s strategic importance. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the attack on the ship or Trump’s threat to bomb Oman.
Read it at the source
47 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
8- Iran War: Iran: Opening the Road of Hormus Depends on USA (opens Zeit Online in a new tab)
Zeit Online — is Zeit Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Hormuz won't open until US meets demands, Iran negotiator says (opens Vanguard News in a new tab)
Vanguard News — is Vanguard News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran: The Strait of Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until Washington Meets the Requirements (opens TVA Nouvelles in a new tab)
TVA Nouvelles — is TVA Nouvelles biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Conflict in the Middle East: The Strait of Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until Washington Meets Tehran's Requirements (opens La Presse in a new tab)
- Iran's top negotiator Qalibaf says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions: media (opens China Daily in a new tab)
China Daily — is China Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Issues Ultimatum to the US Regarding the Strait of Hormuz: It Will Not Be Opened Until Conditions Are Met. (opens Cumhuriyet in a new tab)
Cumhuriyet — is Cumhuriyet biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran sets key conditions for the Strait of Hormuz reopening (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Hormuz Strait to remain shut until U.S. meets interim deal conditions, Iran says (opens Al-Monitor in a new tab)
Al-Monitor — is Al-Monitor biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
7- Iran Says Hormuz Will Stay Shut Until U.S. Lifts Sanctions And Blockade—As Deadline Passes For Peace Deal (opens Forbes in a new tab)
- Strâmtoarea Ormuz Va Rămâne Închisă Până La Noi Ordine, Avertizează Iranul (opens Digi 24 in a new tab)
- Ship hit in Hormuz as Iran's top negotiator says strait to stay shut (opens Euronews in a new tab)
- Hormuz Strait to remain shut until US meets interim deal conditions, Iran says (opens Channel News Asia in a new tab)
Channel News Asia — is Channel News Asia biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Hormuz Strait to remain shut until U.S. meets interim deal conditions, Iran says (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- Hormuz Strait to remain shut until U.S. meets interim deal conditions, Iran says (opens WTVB in a new tab)
- Iran: Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed Until US Meets Tehran's Demands (opens Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija in a new tab)
Right
14- Iran Warns that the Strait of Ormuz Will Not Open Until Donald Trump Fulfills His Commitments (opens Clarin in a new tab)
- Tehran: Strait of Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until the U.S. Fulfills Commitments (opens Observador in a new tab)
Observador — is Observador biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Hormuz Strait wont be opened until US complies with interim deal conditions: Irans Ghalibaf - The Tribune (opens Tribune India in a new tab)
Tribune India — is Tribune India biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Negotiator Ghalibaf Says Hormuz Will Not Open until US Meets Demands (opens Asharq AL-awsat in a new tab)
Asharq AL-awsat — is Asharq AL-awsat biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran says Hormuz will remain closed until US fulfills commitments under memorandum (opens Anadolu Ajansı in a new tab)
Anadolu Ajansı — is Anadolu Ajansı biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Stresses that the Ormuz Crossing Will Remain Closed Until the United States Honours Its Commitments (opens La Tercera in a new tab)
La Tercera — is La Tercera biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran says Hormuz will remain closed until US fulfills commitments under memorandum (opens The Nation in a new tab)
The Nation — is The Nation biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran: "Hormuz Will Not Open" Houthi: "Attack Saudi Arabia" (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
Show 6 more
- Hormuz Strait to remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions: Ghalibaf (opens Al Arabiya in a new tab)
Al Arabiya — is Al Arabiya biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iranian Negotiator: "Will Not Open Hormuz Until U.S. Fulfills MOU Promises" (opens 연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency in a new tab)
연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency — is 연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Says Strait of Ormuz Remains Closed Until the U.S. Fulfills Agreement (opens Globo in a new tab)
- Hormuz Strait to remain shut until U.S. meets interim deal conditions, Iran says (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran War: Iran: Opening the Road of Hormus Depends on USA (opens Handelsblatt in a new tab)
Handelsblatt — is Handelsblatt biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran: the Strait of Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until Washington Meets Tehran's Requirements, Iran's Chief Negotiator Announces (opens Le Figaro in a new tab)
Not rated
18- Ghalibaf: Strait of Hormuz Will Not Reopen Until US Meets Iranian Demands (opens Jordan News in a new tab)
Jordan News — is Jordan News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Says Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until the U.S. Complies with the Interim Agreement (opens La República in a new tab)
La República — is La República biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Will the Strait of Hormuz Be Opened? Iran Has Made a Statement. (opens Aydınlık in a new tab)
- Kalibaf: The Strait of Hormuz Will Not Be Opened Until the Conditions Are Met. (opens Haberler in a new tab)
- The Ormuz Strait Remains Closed. Iran Sends Trump What He Needs to Do to Reopen the Strategic Route (opens Stirile Pro TV in a new tab)
Stirile Pro TV — is Stirile Pro TV biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iranian Negotiator: Strait of Hormuz Will Not Be Opened Until US Meets Demands (opens lrytas.lt in a new tab)
- Iran Says the Strait of Hormuz Will Not Open until... #Live (opens siol.net in a new tab)
- Iran: The Strait of Ormuz Will Remain Closed Until Washington Meets Tehran's Requirements (opens LaProvence.com in a new tab)
LaProvence.com — is LaProvence.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 10 more
- Pressure in the Middle East: Iran Insists It Will Not Reopen Ormuz Until the U.S. Meets Its Conditions (opens RPP in a new tab)
- Iran Keeps Close of Ormuz Closed Until the United States Comply with the June Agreement (opens SIC Notícias in a new tab)
SIC Notícias — is SIC Notícias biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Hit a Ship in Hormuz. Iran: The Strait Remains Closed Until the US Complies with the Memorandum of Understanding. (opens Quotidiano Nazionale in a new tab)
Quotidiano Nazionale — is Quotidiano Nazionale biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US lifts its naval blockade (opens AlKhaleej Today in a new tab)
AlKhaleej Today — is AlKhaleej Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Strait Will Remain Closed Until the U.S. Fulfills Commitments, Says Tehran (opens Noticias ao Minuto in a new tab)
Noticias ao Minuto — is Noticias ao Minuto biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran Demands US to Meet Tehran's Demands. Until Then, the Strait of Hormuz Will Not Be Open, Says Qalibaf (opens Hospodárske Noviny in a new tab)
Hospodárske Noviny — is Hospodárske Noviny biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran: Opening the Hormus Road Depends on USA (opens noz.de in a new tab)
- Iran: Opening the Hormus Road Depends on USA (opens aachener-zeitung.de in a new tab)
aachener-zeitung.de — is aachener-zeitung.de biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Iran keeps Strait of Hormuz closed until US meets deal conditions (opens Crypto Briefing in a new tab)
Crypto Briefing — is Crypto Briefing biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Strait of Ormuz Will Be Closed Until Agreement Is Fulfilled, Says Iran (opens Metrópoles in a new tab)
Metrópoles
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and…?
- Of the 29 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 28% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 48% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 47. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and… left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 29 rated outlets on this story, 28% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 48% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and… biased?
- Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and sanctions is one event reported by 47 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade and…?
- 47 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What are Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
- Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strait will stay closed until the US lifts its naval blockade, releases frozen Iranian assets, ends oil sanctions and halts military operations. These demands were set out in a June memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
- What happened to the ship in the Strait of Hormuz?
- A ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile on 18 August 2026. The attack caused at least one casualty and damaged the engine room. The crew is under Omani coast guard protection, and no environmental damage has been reported.
- Which outlets reported Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Oman?
- Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Oman if it obstructed a Hormuz-related agreement was reported by Digi24 and carried in full in its own words. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the threat, and none of the left-rated digests included it.
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