Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz open to all commercial vessels during a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that ships must use the coordinated routes published by Iran's maritime authorities. President Trump acknowledged Iran's move but affirmed that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in effect.
On April 8, 2026, vessels were observed transiting the Strait of Hormuz following a two-week temporary ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran concerning the strait's reopening, brokered in Oman.
Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, "According to the Lebanon ceasefire agreement, all commercial vessels have complete and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of the ceasefire period." However, he added that vessels must navigate via the coordinated sea lanes announced by Iran's maritime department. Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement on Thursday, initiating a 10-day ceasefire effective 5:00 PM US Eastern Time that day. Israel's military operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iranian ally, have been a central point of contention in US-Iran negotiations. President Trump also posted on social media on Friday, thanking Iran for opening the strait but simultaneously stating that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place until a broader agreement is reached with Iran. Following the announcement, international oil prices plummeted by over 11%. Prior to the conflict, approximately one-fifth of the world's crude oil supply transited through this strait. The closure of this vital channel connecting the Persian Gulf to global energy markets had triggered the most severe oil supply disruption in history. President Trump had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7 in exchange for Iran fully reopening the strait. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of violating the agreement by allowing Israel to continue its military operations in Lebanon. During the US-Iran ceasefire period, the strait remained largely closed due to disputes over the agreement's terms, with only a minimal number of commercial vessels passing through daily. Talks between US Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Ghalibaf in Pakistan last weekend failed to produce a consensus on a permanent end to the US-Iran conflict. President Trump indicated that US and Iranian negotiators might return to Pakistan this weekend for a second round of discussions.
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