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commerce
shāng yè
商业
·HSK 4

Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
again / once more
chóngxīn
重新
to close / to shut
guānbì
关闭
the Strait of Hormuz
Huòěrmùzī hǎixiá
霍尔木兹海峡
，
gunboat
pàotǐng
炮艇
toward / at
xiàng
向
merchant vessel / cargo ship
shāngchuán
商船
to open fire / to fire on
kāihuǒ
开火
。

Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
on / at (formal)
yú
于
April 18th
4 yuè 18 rì
4月18日
citing / on the grounds of
yǐ
以
United States
Měiguó
美国
refusing to
jùjué
拒绝
to lift / to remove
jiěchú
解除
port / harbor
gǎngkǒu
港口
blockade
fēngsuǒ
封锁
as the reason / citing
wéi yóu
为由
，
again / once more
zàicì
再次
closed / to close
guānbì
关闭
the Strait of Hormuz
Huòěrmùzī hǎixiá
霍尔木兹海峡
。
Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
military / armed forces
jūnfāng
军方
gunboats
pàotǐng
炮艇
at / toward
xiàng
向
attempting to
shìtú
试图
to cross / to pass through
chuānyuè
穿越
structural particle
de
的
merchant vessels
shāngchuán
商船
opened fire / to fire on
kāiqiāng
开枪
，
oil prices
yóujià
油价
immediately / promptly
suíjí
随即
sharply / dramatically
jíjù
急剧
rebounded / surged
fǎntán
反弹
。

April 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM

Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
on / at (formal)
yú
于
April 17th
4 yuè 17 rì
4月17日
announced
xuānbù
宣布
during
zài
在
ceasefire
tínghuǒ
停火
period / during
qījiān
期间
completely / fully
wánquán
完全
to open / open
kāifàng
开放
the Strait of Hormuz
Huòěrmùzī hǎixiá
霍尔木兹海峡
，
but / however
dàn
但
one day
yī tiān
一天
later / after
hòu
后
then / immediately
biàn
便
again / once more
zàicì
再次
announced
xuānbù
宣布
to close / closure
guānbì
关闭
。
Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
side / party
fāngmiàn
方面
stated / indicated
biǎoshì
表示
，
United States
Měiguó
美国
refused to
jùjué
拒绝
to remove / to lift
chèchú
撤除
against / of
duì
对
Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
ports
gǎngkǒu
港口
structural particle
de
的
naval / maritime
hǎishàng
海上
blockade
fēngsuǒ
封锁
，
is
shì
是
this time
cǐ cì
此次
closing
guānbì
关闭
the strait
hǎixiá
海峡
structural particle
de
的
main / primary
zhǔyào
主要
reason / cause
yuányīn
原因
。
Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
military / armed forces
jūnfāng
军方
gunboats
pàotǐng
炮艇
against / at
duì
对
attempting to
shìtú
试图
to cross / to pass through
chuānyuè
穿越
the strait
hǎixiá
海峡
structural particle
de
的
merchant ships
shāngchuán
商船
launched / to launch
fādòng
发动
artillery fire / fired upon
pàojī
炮击
，
including / among them
qízhōng
其中
including
bāokuò
包括
two vessels
liǎng sōu
两艘
Indian-flagged
Yìndù jí
印度籍
vessels / ships
chuánzhī
船只
，
forced / compelling
pòshǐ
迫使
them
qí
其
to turn back / to return
fǎnháng
返航
。
according to reports
jù bàodào
据报道
，
one vessel
yī sōu
一艘
named / called
míng wéi
名为
Sanmar Herald (oil tanker name)
Sāng Mǎ ěr Xiānqū hào
桑玛尔先驱号
structural particle
de
的
very large / ultra-large
chāo dàxíng
超大型
oil tanker
yóulún
油轮
after / having
zài
在
receiving / having received
shōudào
收到
transit / passage
tōngxíng
通行
clearance / permission
xǔkě
许可
after
hòu
后
，
still / nevertheless
réng
仍
was subjected to / suffered
zāodào
遭到
Iran
Yīlǎng
伊朗
gunboats
pàotǐng
炮艇
structural particle
de
的
fire / shooting
shèjī
射击
。
the Strait of Hormuz
Huòěrmùzī hǎixiá
霍尔木兹海峡
is
shì
是
global / worldwide
quánqiú
全球
most
zuì
最
important
zhòngyào
重要
structural particle
de
的
energy
néngyuán
能源
transport / shipping
yùnshū
运输
passage / channel
tōngdào
通道
，
approximately / about
yuē
约
20 percent
20%
20%
structural particle
de
的
international
guójì
国际
oil / petroleum
shíyóu
石油
trade
màoyì
贸易
via / passing through
jīngyóu
经由
here / this point
cǐ chù
此处
。
as / following
suízhe
随着
the strait
hǎixiá
海峡
closure
guānbì
关闭
news / report
xiāoxi
消息
spread / became known
chuán chū
传出
，
international
guójì
国际
oil prices
yóujià
油价
quickly / rapidly
xùnsù
迅速
sharply / significantly
dàfú
大幅
rebounded / surged
fǎntán
反弹
。

New Words

Huòěrmùzī hǎixiá
霍尔木兹海峡
Strait of Hormuz
guānbì
关闭
to close
pàotǐng
炮艇
gunboat
kāihuǒ
开火
to open fire
shāngchuán
商船
merchant vessel
pòshǐ
迫使
forced/compelled
fǎnháng
返航
to turn back
yóujià
油价
oil prices
fǎntán
反弹
rebounded/surged

News in English

Business

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again and Gunboats Fire on Merchant Ships

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on April 18 citing the US refusal to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian gunboats fired on merchant vessels attempting to cross, sending oil prices sharply higher.

Iran announced on April 17th that it would completely open the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period. However, one day later it announced closure once again. Iran stated that the U.S. refusal to lift naval blockades against Iranian ports was the main reason for the closure. Iranian military gunboats fired upon merchant ships attempting to cross the strait, including two Indian-flagged vessels, forcing them to turn back. According to reports, an oil tanker named Sanmar Herald received transit permission but still came under fire from Iranian gunboats. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important energy transport channel, with approximately 20% of international oil trade passing through here. Following news of the strait's closure, international oil prices rapidly and significantly rebounded.

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