Iran’s foreign minister and U.S. President Donald Trump have announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
- The Strait of Hormuz has been declared open for commercial passage in line with the Lebanon ceasefire.
- U.S. President Donald Trump stated the U.S. blockade of Iran remains in full force until a deal ends the war.
- Israel and Hezbollah have entered a 10-day ceasefire, though Israeli troops remain in a southern Lebanon buffer zone.
Status of the Strait of Hormuz and Nuclear Negotiations
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that passage for all commercial vessels through the strait is “declared completely open.” He stated the waterway would remain open for the duration of the ceasefire.
President Trump confirmed the announcement via social media, noting that Iran had declared the strait “ready for full passage.” However, he emphasized that the U.S. blockade of Iran will persist until a comprehensive deal is reached to end the war.
Trump also stated that Iran is working with the U.S. to remove all sea mines from the waterway. Additionally, the president claimed Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, which he referred to as “Nuclear Dust.”
This term refers to highly enriched uranium believed to be located under nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran last year. Neither Iran nor international intermediaries have confirmed such an agreement has been made.
Lebanon Ceasefire and Security Zones
In Beirut, residents celebrated the start of the truce with gunfire just after midnight. Displaced families have begun attempting to return to southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, despite official warnings to wait until the ceasefire is stabilized.
UN peacekeepers reported no airstrikes since midnight but accused the Israeli military of artillery shelling and violating airspace in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on these allegations.
President Trump stated that Israel is “prohibited” from conducting further strikes on Lebanon, asserting that “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire was agreed upon to advance peace efforts, but maintained that Israeli troops would not withdraw. Defence Minister Israel Katz added that Israel will maintain a buffer zone extending six miles into southern Lebanon.
Katz warned that attempts to fully disarm Hezbollah are not yet complete and that many homes in the buffer zone would be destroyed, preventing Lebanese residents from returning.
Economic Impact and Human Cost
The International Energy Agency warned that energy shocks could worsen if the waterway did not reopen. IEA executive director Fatih Birol noted that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel remaining.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, including at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.
International diplomatic efforts continue, including a recent meeting between Pakistan’s army chief and Iran’s parliament speaker to press for an extension of the ceasefire.
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