Iran announces that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” and will remain so during the rest of its negotiated truce with Washington, thanks to the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that came into effect on Friday.
“In accordance with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage of all commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining duration of the ceasefire negotiated with Washington,” wrote Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a post on X.
The conclusion of a truce in Lebanon was one of Iran’s conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
After welcoming the announcement on his network, Truth Social, President Donald Trump stated that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports will be maintained until negotiations with Tehran are concluded. Washington imposed the blockade last Monday after Iran refused to give up its nuclear ambitions during talks that failed in Islamabad.
Trump reassures that most contentious issues have already been negotiated with Iran and that negotiations should conclude quickly. There are five days remaining in the ceasefire, initially set for two weeks, negotiated between the US and Iran.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump successively claimed that Washington now prohibits Israel from bombing Lebanon, criticized NATO for its lack of initiative during the crisis, stated that Iran has removed or is removing sea mines with US assistance, and affirmed that Iran has agreed to never block the Strait of Hormuz again.
According to ship tracking data, a group of about twenty ships, including container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers, was spotted on Friday evening in the Gulf, heading towards exit through the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Reuters.
Global Markets On the Rise
On the stock exchanges, oil prices dropped after Iran’s announcement of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Brent barrel of North Sea, a global benchmark, fell to $89.32, down 10.13%, while its American equivalent, WTI, dropped to $83.58, down 11.73%.
At the same time, major indices surged: the Dow Jones rose by 2.00%, the S&P 500 by 1.27%, and the Nasdaq by 1.55%.
“This is the good news of this Friday, and it is a first since the beginning of the conflict,” noted Kathleen Brooks, an analyst for XTB.
In Europe, major indices also saw gains, with Paris up 1.97%, Frankfurt up 2.27%, and Milan up 1.75%. London rose by 0.73%.
Before Iran’s announcement of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Friday urged various regulatory authorities to coordinate and be transparent in case kerosene rationing becomes necessary, particularly in Europe.
In Canada, Air Canada had previously announced the suspension of its flights to New York’s JFK airport due to high kerosene prices since the start of the war.
Carney Leading Non-Belligerents Summit
At the summit of non-belligerents chaired by France and the UK, around thirty heads of state, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, gathered via video conference demanding full unconditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties.
The military security mission led by these countries is deemed even more legitimate as it is what will underpin these short-term announcements and ensure their sustainability, said French President Emmanuel Macron after the summit.
In a statement, Prime Minister Carney affirmed that Canada is ready to take further measures to ensure navigation security in the Strait, including diplomatic dialogue, international awareness actions, and crew safety support.
Fragile Ceasefire in Lebanon
Despite the ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon taking effect on Friday, the Lebanese army denounced violations by Israel in the southern part of the country.
The truce, following the one agreed for two weeks between the US and Iran, commenced at midnight local time in both countries after a month and a half of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, funded and armed by Tehran.
Various outlets reported that celebratory gunfire was heard in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. Images from Radio-Canada’s special envoy in Beirut, Rania Massoud, showed people returning to the southern suburb after weeks of conflict.
Some residents raised Hezbollah flags or displayed portraits of its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, killed by Israel in 2024. However, the Lebanese army reported multiple violations of the ceasefire by Israel, including aggression acts and sporadic bombings affecting several villages.
The Lebanese army urged displaced persons to refrain from immediately returning to southern Lebanon.
Still a War Zone
The Israeli army maintained its ground deployment in the region and advised the population not to return to the southern bank of the Litani River. However, significant traffic jams were observed, with motorists and motorcyclists waiting for hours to cross the heavily damaged bridge connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country.
Hezbollah announced having bombed an Israeli soldier gathering near the town of Khiam in response to ceasefire violations by the occupying army. Reports indicated bombardments on the town and the neighboring village of Debbine, along with intense drone activity in the same southern region of Lebanon.
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ten-day ceasefire, adding that efforts were underway to organize the first-ever meeting at the White House between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I hope Hezbollah will behave well during this critical period. It will be a GREAT moment for them if they do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes have resulted in over 2,000 deaths in the country, with one million displaced persons, representing a fifth of Lebanon’s population, according to the UN.
Chance for Historic Peace
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire agreement, as did Netanyahu, who called it an opportunity for historic peace with Beirut while reiterating his demand for Hezbollah disarmament as a precondition.
Combat continued on the ground until the ceasefire took effect. Shortly after the US president’s announcement, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported seven deaths and 33 injuries from an Israeli strike in the south of the country, while Hezbollah claimed several attacks on military positions in northern Israel causing three injuries, two of them severe.
At least 13 deaths were reported from Israeli strikes on the city of Tyre just before the ceasefire took effect, with the Israeli army claiming to have targeted 380 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in the previous 24 hours.
Lebanese Hezbollah stated that its fighters were on high alert and ready to act if the ceasefire was violated by Israel.
With information from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
