Trump thanked Iran for the move but said the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian shipping would remain in force until Tehran agrees to a deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi has announced that, for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Iranian forces will cease restricting shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil transit waterway that Tehran has been blocking in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli attacks that has become a focal point in the war.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the 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 in an April 17 post on social media.
Araghchi’s announcement, endorsed in a Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump, comes on the heels of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been battling the Iran-allied Hezbollah terrorist group after it launched attacks against Israel in response to the Iran war.
“Thank you!” Trump wrote in the post, adding that Iran’s announcement means that the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open and ready for full passage.”
In a follow-up message, Trump said that the U.S. naval blockade of Iran-linked vessels would remain in “full force” until the peace deal that Washington is negotiating with Tehran is “100% complete.”
It comes as Pakistan’s army chief met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday as part of a mediation effort between the United States and Iran to extend their temporary truce and help bring about a lasting peace agreement, with much uncertainty remaining around whether the frantic diplomacy can lead to a deal.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
By Tom Ozimek
