Leavitt says the closure of Strait of Hormuz is ‘completely unacceptable’ and ‘false’

Published April 8, 2026 2:10pm ET



White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced as “false” reports that Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz less than 24 hours after the United States and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal.

Iran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s continued attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Iranian state media reports on Wednesday. Yet Leavitt appeared to suggest that Iran is merely posturing publicly.

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