Live Updates: Strait of Hormuz is ‘fully open,’ Trump says, following Iran’s announcement

President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping on Friday, while maintaining a strict U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports pending a final long-term agreement.

Diplomatic Negotiations and Deadlines

President Trump stated that negotiations with Iran are nearing completion, noting that most points have already been negotiated and agreed upon. He expressed belief that a deal could be reached within the next day or two.

However, the president warned that he may end the current ceasefire with Iran if a long-term agreement is not finalized by Wednesday. He noted that while the ceasefire is fragile, the naval blockade will remain in place regardless.

Trump indicated that some “pretty good news” had recently emerged regarding the Middle East, though he declined to provide specific details, stating only that the public would hear about it shortly.

Maritime Operations and the Strait of Hormuz

The announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open and ready for business” caused oil prices to plummet more than 10%. West Texas Intermediate crude fell below $85 a barrel, while Brent crude dropped to approximately $89 a barrel.

Despite the reopening of the strait, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports. CENTCOM reported that 21 ships have complied with orders to turn around and return to Iran since the blockade began on Monday.

The president explicitly denied that any tolls or restrictions managed by Iran would be imposed on ships traveling through the strait. He also announced that Iran, with U.S. assistance, is removing all sea mines from the waterway.

Nuclear Disarmament and Uranium Retrieval

A primary condition for any deal is the total elimination of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Trump stated that preventing Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon “supersedes everything else.”

The U.S. intends to retrieve 100% of Iran’s remaining highly enriched uranium, which the president described as “nuclear dust.” He warned that if an agreement is not reached, the U.S. would seize the material in a “much more unfriendly form.”

Reports indicate that China is open to taking custody of or downgrading approximately 970 pounds of the highly enriched uranium as part of the resolution.

Regional Ceasefires and International Response

Parallel to the Iran negotiations, a 10-day ceasefire is currently in effect between Israel and Lebanon. President Trump stated that Israel is prohibited from further bombing Lebanon and that the U.S. will work separately with Lebanon to address the Hezbollah situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Lebanon ceasefire as temporary. He stated that while a security buffer zone has been created, the mission to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons has not yet been completed.

International reactions have been mixed. While Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar were praised by the U.S. for their roles, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that the current stability is “very fragile.” Meanwhile, President Trump criticized NATO as “useless,” claiming the alliance offered help only after the crisis had largely subsided.

U.S. Military Status

CENTCOM confirmed that over 10,000 service members, 100 aircraft, and more than a dozen warships are currently executing the blockade mission. The U.S. Navy and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have denied reports of food shortages aboard deployed ships, calling such claims “fake news.”

In separate developments, CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from Syria on Friday, turning over all major bases as part of a transition in Operation Inherent Resolve.