Iran’s foreign minister said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open to all commercial vessels for the remaining period of a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The announcement by Abbas Araghchi came a day after a 10-day truce began between Israel and Hezbollah. Araghchi said in a post on X that passage would be allowed along a coordinated route already announced by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization. He added that the reopening aligns with the ceasefire arrangement.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the development in a post on Truth Social. He wrote that the strait is “completely open and ready for business.” However, Trump also said the U.S. naval blockade targeting Iran would remain in effect until a final agreement is reached. He described the process as likely to move “very quickly” since most points have already been negotiated.
Iran had tightened control over the strait following joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country on February 28. Tehran denied safe passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States. The United States later imposed a naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.
A senior Iranian military official told state-run IRIB news agency that military vessels are not permitted to pass through the strait. Only civilian ships may cross, and they must follow designated routes with permission from the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. An informed source close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told Tasnim news agency that Iran has set three conditions for passage: vessels must be commercial, unaffiliated with hostile countries, and follow Iran-determined routes with prior coordination.
The closure of the strait had severely disrupted global shipping. Data from the Belgium-based analytics firm Kpler showed that more than 130 ships passed through the strait each day before the conflict. After February 28, average daily traffic fell by over 95 percent.
Friday’s reopening triggered an immediate response in energy markets. Oil prices fell more than 10 percent, with Brent crude dropping to $94.42 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate falling to $89.95. Before the war, about a fifth of the world’s crude oil supply passed through the strait.
Despite the reopening, shipping industry groups urged caution. The International Maritime Organization said it is verifying the announcement for compliance with freedom of navigation and the established traffic separation scheme. Bimco, a shipping association, said the announcement does little to change the risk outlook. Jakob Larsen, the group’s chief safety and security officer, said the traffic separation scheme has not been declared safe for transit and that shipping companies should consider avoiding the area.
Trump said U.S. and Iranian negotiators could meet again this weekend in Pakistan for a second round of talks. A Pakistani official involved in backchannel mediation said progress had been made in indirect discussions, with a memorandum of understanding possible within 60 days.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz marks a significant easing of tensions in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.