Iran says it has reopened Strait of Hormuz

Iran has said it has reopened the previously blocked Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on X (Twitter)

Details: Passage has been authorised for all commercial vessels.

Quote from Araghchi: "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."

Details: The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important narrow waterway (about 34-55 km wide) connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Around 20% of global oil exports pass through it. After the strait was blocked, oil prices rose sharply.

As reported by European Pravda, US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that Israel and Lebanon had reached a ceasefire agreement.

He said he had held "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Quote from Trump: "These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio."

Details: Trump added that he had instructed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve lasting peace.

"It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!," the US president said.

Background:

• On 12 April, Trump said the US would begin blocking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and detaining any ship that had paid duties to Iran.
• On 14 April, three vessels that had called at Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, testing the US blockade.
• On 15 April, the supertanker Agios Fanourios I, which was heading to Iraq, crossed the Strait of Hormuz after failing to pass into the Persian Gulf over the weekend.
• On 17 April, the supertankers Alicia and RHN, which are under US sanctions for transporting Iranian oil, were also able to pass through the strait.
• The US expanded its blockade of Iranian ports and coastal waters to include all Iranian vessels and sanctioned ships regardless of their location.

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