Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open for the remaining period" of the ceasefire with the U.S. following the one announced between Lebanon and Israel.
However, Araghchi noted that vessels will have to go through the "coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.
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.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 17, 2026
Trump celebrated the development in a social media post: "IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!" he said.
Trump, however, said the U.S. blockade remains in full force: "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," he said. He went on to detail that negotiations "SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED."
The ceasefire in question was also announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday. It is set to last 10 days and involve negotiations between the countries.
"I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," Trump said in a social media publication.
The development follows a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials in the U.S. on Tuesday, where both parties agreed on the need to "liberate" the latter country from Hezbollah.
Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, told press that negotiators "discovered today that we're on the same side of the equation, and that's the most positive thing we could have come away with."
"The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah," Leiter added.
Hezbollah not only called on Lebanese officials to not attend the meeting, but a top official also said the group won't observe any agreement reached between the countries.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said negotiations are "delicate and crucial," telling lawmakers that the main goals are solidifying the ceasefire, ensuring the withdrawal of Israel forces from the country's territory and resolve border disputes.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, on his end, said Israeli forces "will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and captured" until all objectives are completed.
"The objective we defined — disarming Hezbollah through military or diplomatic means — was and remains the campaign's goal, to which we are committed. A significant diplomatic lever has now also been created, with the direct involvement of the President of the United States and a commitment to this objective, alongside pressure on the Lebanese government," he added in a statement on Friday.
