PANews reported on April 19th, citing the Wall Street Journal, that Iran's rapid shift in stance on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz exposes a growing divide between the country's political leadership and its military hardliners. Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was "fully open." However, this statement quickly triggered a strong backlash within Tehran. An audio recording obtained by the newspaper shows a man claiming to be a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy broadcasting over a maritime radio that the strait remains closed and ships need permission to pass. "We will open the strait according to the orders of our leader, not listen to some childish tweets." A crew member stated that other ships were responding to this warning. Around the same time, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, also criticized the Foreign Minister for announcing the policy on social media. The agency stated, "The Foreign Ministry should reconsider this method of communication." Senior hardliner lawmaker Morteza Mahmoudi called for Araqchi's replacement, saying his statement caused oil prices to fall and presented a gift to the United States.