The declaration was made by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated that maritime passage through the strait would remain “completely open” for the duration of the ongoing ceasefire. The move comes a day after a truce was reached between Israel and Lebanon.
“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 ceasefire,” Araghchi wrote on X.
However, ambiguity remains over which ceasefire timeline the announcement refers to—whether it applies to the 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon or the separate two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States.
The reopening drew a swift response from US President Donald Trump, who welcomed the development on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Iran has just announced that the strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank you!” Trump wrote, referring to the waterway as the “Strait of Iran.”
The decision follows earlier tensions that delayed the resumption of shipping activity. Although the US and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, progress was disrupted by intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Iranian officials had made the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah a key condition in negotiations, accusing Israel of undermining peace efforts. Israel, however, maintained that its operations in Lebanon were not covered under the earlier truce framework.
A separate 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was eventually brokered in Washington, with US mediation playing a central role.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Approximately 40 percent of global oil shipments pass through this narrow corridor, underscoring its geopolitical and economic significance.
