Iran announces Hormuz ‘completely open’ for commercial shipping after Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for all commercial vessels, linking it to the ceasefire in Lebanon, Anadolu reports.

The decision was made “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon,” Araghchi said in a statement on US social media company X.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

He said the passage will remain “open for the remaining period of ceasefire” on the “coordinated route” as already announced by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization.

A senior Iranian military official also told Iranian state media IRIB that the transit of military vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains prohibited, adding that only non-military vessels are allowed to pass through designated routes with authorization from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

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The official said that vessels must strictly follow the routes defined by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization.

Tehran imposed control on the key waterway soon after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, affecting global energy supplies and maritime traffic.

The US has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports since Monday this week.

However, the two sides remained engaged through mediation by Pakistan, and Araghchi’s announcement came after Pakistan army chief Gen. Asim Munir met Iran’s top civil and military leadership over the past two days in Tehran.

Islamabad hosted rare talks between Washington and Tehran last weekend after securing a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran on April 8, and efforts are ongoing to end the war.

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