Iran declares Hormuz now completely open during ceasefire

TEHRAN

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is “declared completely open” for the remaining period of the ceasefire, in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Despite a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire that expires on April 22, Iran had so far not lifted its blockade of the waterway. Tehran had said there would be no deal as long as Israel was striking Lebanon.

“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 said on April 17 on X.

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated Iran’s announcement that it has opened the Strait of Hormuz.

“IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE,” Trump writes in an all-caps Truth Social post.

On April 13, the U.S. military began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, a move announced by Trump. In response, Tehran warned it could retaliate by targeting ports in neighboring Gulf states, following unsuccessful talks held in Islamabad over the weekend aimed at ending the conflict.

Since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran has largely restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, allowing passage only for Iranian-controlled vessels and those operating under strict authorization and fee-based conditions.

Trump has also stated that Washington would prevent Iranian ships from operating freely and could intercept any vessels complying with Iranian-imposed toll systems. He further warned that Iranian fast-attack craft approaching the blockade zone could be destroyed.

The announcement came as the leaders of France and the U.K. gathered dozens of countries, but not the United States, on April 17 to push forward plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.