Iran says it has opened the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
WASHINGTON โ After a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was put into effect Thursday, Iran announced Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to all shipping traffic.ย
Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that the strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically flows, will be completely open as long as the ceasefire remains in effect.ย
“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 wrote.ย
The truce between Israel and Lebanon was declared to last for 10 days.
President Donald Trump reacted favorably to the news, thanking Iran for opening the passage in a social media post.ย
“IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!” the president wrote on Truth Social, minutes after Iran’s announcement.ย
On April 8, the U.S. entered into a two-week ceasefire with Iran, but the Strait of Hormuz has remained closed through much of it because of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Lebanon.ย
The U.S. retaliated to a continued blockade of the strait by enforcing its own, bringing the number of ships able to safely travel the narrow waterway to nearly zero.ย
Trump said in a second all-caps social media post on Friday the U.S. blockade of Iran “WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE” until Iran reaches a deal with the U.S. to end the ongoing war.
It’s unclear if any ships will be allowed past the American blockade.ย
“THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED,” Trump said.ย
But even with the uncertainty surrounding the strait’s long-term future, crude oil prices tumbled 10% in the minutes after the strait opening announcement.
Gasoline prices have been trending down in recent days on hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal and news of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. But ย the head of the International Energy Agency warned that energy shocks could get worse if the Strait of Hormuz did not reopen permanently soon.
Europe has โmaybe six weeks or soโ of jet fuel left and broader economic consequences will grow the longer the strait is closed, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told The Associated Press on Thursday.
