Iran Announces Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced on Friday that it will fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for the global oil trade, as long as the ceasefire in the Middle East continues. This comes as the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon is being implemented, sparking cautious hope for peace in the region. Tehran’s announcement, welcomed by US President Donald Trump, led to a 10% drop in oil prices and a rebound in European stock exchanges after five weeks of devastating war for the global economy.

Trump Claims Iran Will Never Close the Strait Again

“Thank you!” responded President Trump immediately on his Truth social platform, asserting unilaterally that Iran had committed to never closing the strait again. He also stated that Iran, with US support, was removing or in the process of removing all maritime mines from the corridor. However, he made it clear that US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in effect until negotiations are concluded.

UN Secretary-General Welcomes the Opening of the Strait

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the reopening of the strait as “a step in the right direction,” emphasizing the need for the restoration of international navigation rights in the area. He hoped that this crucial maritime route’s reopening, along with the ceasefire, would help build trust among the parties involved.

Neutral Mission to Secure the Strait

During a conference in Paris, several non-belligerent countries expressed readiness for a neutral mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump rejected NATO’s assistance proposals, asserting that the situation in the strait was now resolved.

Ongoing Negotiations, Accord “Very Close” According to Trump

Parallel negotiations under Pakistan’s leadership are ongoing for a second round of talks between Tehran and Washington. Iran had demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon as a condition for the next phase. President Trump confirmed that there were no “sticking points” between the US and Iran in reaching a peace agreement, claiming that a deal was very close.

However, he emphasized that the potential agreement with Tehran was not linked to the one between Israel and Lebanon. This marked the first time since the Israeli-American strikes on Iran that all fronts of the war had gone silent.

Many displaced individuals returned to their homes in southern Lebanon or the southern suburbs of Beirut, despite Israeli warnings that the operation against Hezbollah was not over. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted that the dismantling of the movement “would not be achieved tomorrow.” He had previously stated that the Israeli army would remain present in Lebanon during the ceasefire within a 10-kilometer strip along the border.