Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, tells US to end blockade
Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon, but warned that it could close the critical waterway again if the US navy continues to blockade Iranian ports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on social media that the strait, a narrow choke point in global energy trade, is open to all commercial ships for the remainder of the 10-day US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump, who launched the war against Iran along with Israel on February 28, told his supporters at a rally in Arizona that Araqchi’s announcement was “a big, bright day for the world.”
But subsequent statements and statements from both sides created uncertainty about how quickly shipping could return to normal, and some ships were observed making unsuccessful attempts to cross the strait before returning on Friday local time.
Trump said that the US blockade of ships going to Iranian ports, which was announced after the talks with Iran ended without an agreement last weekend, will continue “until our agreement with Iran is 100 percent completed.”
Iran responded harshly, with its parliamentary speaker and senior negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, saying in a social media post that the strait, which until recently carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade, “will not remain open” if the US blockade continues.
He also said Trump made many false claims about Friday’s peace talks.
Iran said “all ships must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”, but this was not the case before the war.
The Ministry of Defense said that military ships and vessels linked to the “hostile powers” the United States and Israel are still not allowed to pass, as quoted by state television.
Ship traffic data showed that a group of about 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers and tankers, headed from the Gulf towards the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, but most turned back, although the reason was not disclosed.
The group also included three container ships operated by French shipping group CMA CGM, but declined to comment.
It was the largest group of ships to attempt the passage since the beginning of the war.
Trump told Reuters the United States would remove Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state television that the material would not be transferred anywhere.
Separately, a senior Iranian official said Iran hopes a preliminary agreement that could extend the ceasefire, which expires next week, can be reached in the coming days.
That could buy more time for negotiations on lifting sanctions against Iran and compensating for war damages, the official said.
Oil prices fell nearly 10 percent and global stocks jumped on news that maritime traffic could flow through the strait again.
Shipping companies cautiously welcomed Iran’s announcement but said they would need clarifications, including mine risk, before ships pass through the Gulf entry point.
The US Navy has warned sailors that the mine threat in parts of the waterway is not fully understood and said they should consider avoiding the area.
More than a dozen countries are willing to join an international mission to protect shipping in the strait when conditions allow, Britain said after a video conference on Friday.
Trump told Reuters there could likely be more peace talks this weekend. Some diplomats said that was unlikely, given the logistics of the meeting in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, where the talks were expected to take place.
A Pakistani source involved in mediation efforts said the upcoming meeting could result in an initial memorandum of understanding followed by a comprehensive peace agreement within 60 days.
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