Iran says Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' to ships

Breaking

Jack Dutton

Apr 17, 2026

MUSCAT, OMAN - MARCH 25: Locals take photos of two bulk carriers anchored at Muscat Anchorage on March 25, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which conveys about 20% of the world's oil and gas, has mostly come to a halt after the joint U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28. Iran, in a defiant reply to a ceasefire proposal from the United States, has claimed that sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz "is its natural and legal right." Under international law, t — Locals take photos of two bulk carriers anchored at Muscat Anchorage on March 25, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. — Elke Scholiers/Getty Images

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz has been declared open to commercial shipping for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

The 10-day truce, announced Thursday afternoon, is set to run until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 26.

“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 Organization of the Islamic Rep. of Iran,” Araghchi wrote on X.

Israel’s war in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah has been a key sticking point in the Washington-Tehran negotiations.

Minutes later, US President Donald Trump thanked Iran as he touted the announcement on Truth Social.

“IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!" he wrote.

In a subsequent post, Trump clarified that while the strait would remain open to global shipping, restrictions would still apply to Iran, writing that it is “COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE,” but that a naval blockade would “REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY,” until ongoing negotiations are finalized.

Following the announcement, the cost of a barrel of Brent crude futures fell from around $95 to under $90 as of 9:50 a.m. EST.

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 2 in response to US and Israeli attacks launched on its territory on Feb. 28. The move underscored Tehran’s willingness to use the vital shipping lane as leverage in the conflict. It also raised the stakes for global energy markets, given the strait’s importance to oil and gas flows.

This is a developing story and will be updated.