Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday announced that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain open to commercial shipping for the duration of an ongoing ceasefire in the Middle East.
“The passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
It remains unclear whether the statement refers to the 10-day truce between Lebanon and Israel, which took effect at midnight, or a separate two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States that began on April 8.
Reacting to the development, US President Donald Trump welcomed Iran’s move, describing it as a positive step for global shipping and energy flows.
“THANK YOU!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that Iran had declared the vital waterway “FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, had been effectively closed by Tehran on February 28 following the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel.
Iran’s decision to reopen the waterway formed part of a two-week ceasefire agreement with Washington that commenced on April 8, although uncertainties persist over whether the arrangement extends to the Lebanon-Israel truce.
The development is expected to ease concerns over disruptions to global oil supply, as the strait remains one of the world’s most critical maritime routes for energy transportation.
