The strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will be "fully" opened for civilian shipping for the duration of the current ceasefire, according to a statement from Tehran. "Transit for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for the remaining duration of the ceasefire," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi announced Friday on social media platform X.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the development but simultaneously announced that the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a final agreement ending hostilities is reached with Tehran.
"The naval blockade remains, as far as Iran is concerned, in full force until our transaction with Iran is one hundred percent complete," Trump declared on his Truth Social platform. The US President expressed confidence that an agreement with Iran "should be achieved very quickly." Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz does not apply to warships. Their passage remains "prohibited."
Foreign Minister Araghchi left unclear in his announcement whether he was referring to the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel or the truce between Iran and the United States. The Lebanon ceasefire came into effect early Friday morning and was agreed for a ten-day period. The pause in fighting between the US and Iran theoretically ends next Wednesday.
Immediately following Araghtschi's announcement, oil prices fell by more than ten percent initially. The price for a barrel (159 liters) of North Sea Brent crude for June delivery dropped 10.42 percent in the afternoon to $89.11 (€75.25). The US reference grade WTI was traded down an even steeper 11.11 percent, falling to $84.11 per barrel. Shortly before, oil prices had already declined by five percent on hopes for de-escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Iran's announcement of the Strait of Hormuz opening. He simultaneously called for a "complete" opening of the strait without preconditions by all conflict parties.
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), any opening of the Strait of Hormuz must be "reliable" and "permanent." Merz characterized Iran's announcement of opening the strait during the existing ceasefire as "good news." "But this must be designed in complete accordance with international maritime law so that there are no restrictions whatsoever," Merz added.
Macron and Merz made their statements at an international conference on securing the Strait of Hormuz with representatives from approximately 50 states and organizations in Paris. The meeting was attended by Macron and Merz along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Germany could participate in a mission to protect the strait with mine clearance or naval reconnaissance, according to sources from Berlin government circles.
The Iran war began on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks that killed, among others, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with attacks on Israel, several Gulf states, and US facilities in the region, as well as the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. On April 7, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
Negotiations for a permanent peace between Iran and the US in the Pakistani capital Islamabad ended last weekend without agreement. Trump subsequently imposed the blockade of Iranian ports. However, efforts to reach a peace agreement continue. Trump has repeatedly stated that such a deal could be concluded soon.
Since the beginning of the Iran war in late February, the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas transport normally flows, has been de facto largely blocked by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The blockade has driven oil and liquefied gas prices higher worldwide.
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