The ceasefire between Iran and United States is less a sign of peace than an expression of a real deadlock and the continuation of war in another form—a war now unfolding across political, economic, and media spheres. What has occurred is not a transition to peace, but a transformation of conflict from direct military confrontation into more complex forms of struggle.
Within less than two days, three contradictory narratives emerged regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran declared it “fully open” while maintaining strict military control. The United States insisted that the naval blockade continues. On April 18, Iran again spoke of “tight control,” while reports of attacks on oil tankers and new restrictions confirmed the ongoing deadlock.
The Strait of Hormuz is therefore neither open nor closed—it has become an active instrument of war and a strategic bargaining tool.
Behind competing narratives, reality shows that war continues in other forms, particularly through proxy conflicts. Lebanon remains under attack by Israel, and the infrastructure of full-scale war remains intact. Blockade, restricted shipping, energy insecurity, and military repositioning all indicate that the conflict has not ended but has been reconfigured.
This situation also reflects a deepening crisis within NATO. Europe’s simultaneous emphasis on free navigation and refusal to support the war reveals that the United States can no longer impose a unified direction. This is not a temporary disagreement, but a crisis of leadership and hegemony within global capitalism.
At the same time, the energy crisis and disruption of global exchanges are transferring the costs of war onto the working classes worldwide. Discontent is growing, but without independent class organization, it risks being absorbed into bourgeois frameworks.
The current situation is therefore not merely a military deadlock, but a moment within a deeper global crisis where war, energy, political fractures, and social tensions are intertwined.
For anti-war and anti-capitalist organising
Against neo-fascism and nationalism – against reactionary war
Long live the internationalist solidarity of the working class
April 18, 2026
Internationalist Workers’ Organization