Iran declares Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open for remaining period of ceasefire'

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday, April 17, that the Strait of Hormuz will be “completely open” for the remaining period of the “ceasefire”.

It was not clear whether he was speaking of the 10-day truce agreed by Lebanon and Israel that went into effect at midnight or an earlier two-week truce between Iran and the United States that began on April 8.

“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire,” Araghchi posted on X.

He said the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz “will be on the coordinated route as already announced by ports and the maritime organisation of Iran.”

The announcement came after US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel on Thursday evening, a key move that eased tensions with Iran.

Trump confirms Hormuz is open, but says US blockade intact

In a social media post, US President Donald Trump also confirmed that the strait “is fully open and ready for full passage.” He, however, said the US blockade will remain in “full force and effect as it pertains to Iran only.”

“The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” Trump posted on TRUTH Social.

“This process should go very quickly, in that most of the points are already negotiated. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J.Trump,” he wrote.

What does this mean for US blockade on Hormuz?

It was not immediately clear what that meant for the US blockade of the strait. Trump had announced a blockade of Hormuz after the first round of peace talks between the US and Iran ended without any conclusion or deal.

After the meeting, Trump wrote on social media, “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”

The US President later declared the exact time when the blockade would come into force. “The United States to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports on April 13 at 10:00 A.M. ET. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT,” he said in another post.

Even as the US blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats strained the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US, regional officials reported progress, telling the Associated Press that the United States and Iran had an “in-principle agreement” to extend it to allow for more diplomacy.

Mediators are reportedly pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to AP sources involved in the mediation efforts.

Trump suggested the ceasefire could be extended. “If we’re close to a deal, would I extend?” Trump was quoted as saying in an exchange with reporters. “Yeah, I would do that.”