The Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” for all ships as long as the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon stays in place, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced on his X account.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran,” Araghchi said.
President Donald Trump shared a post of his own on his Truth Social account following Araghchi’s announcement.
“THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE. THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!” Trump wrote.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached on Thursday (April 16) and was set to go into place on Friday (April 17). Iran had initially claimed that Lebanon was included in its ceasefire with the U.S. before Israel launched attacks on Hezbollah.
Iran initially blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a vital waterway for trade along the Persian Gulf responsible for an estimated 20% of the world’s oil supply traveling through, in response to the United States and Israel’s ‘Operation Epic Fury’ prior to its ceasefire agreement and again after the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The blockade has led to gas prices soaring in the United States as the price of oil surpassed $100 per barrel multiple times.
The U.S. military began its own blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas in adherence with Trump’s orders earlier this week.
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