Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial shipping on Friday and reportedly committed never to close the critical waterway again or to use it as a weapon against global trade.
The April 17 announcement came hours after a ceasefire went into effect in Lebanon and while the U.S. was still putting pressure on Iran, which included blocking Iranian ports with ships.
President Donald Trump went on social media and revealed that Iran had agreed to keep the strait open for good.
“Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” Trump wrote.
The Strait is a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil by sea.
Tankers move roughly 20 million barrels of crude and petroleum products through it every day under normal conditions.
Also Read:Â Trump Advised to Go After Energy Infrastructure on Kharg Island as His Blockade Cripples Iran
Shipping data showed traffic had dropped sharply since late February, when tensions intensified into direct conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced the reopening, saying the strait was now “completely open” for all commercial ships for the remainder of the current ceasefire.
Iranian officials confirmed that sea mines were being cleared, with some U.S. assistance noted by Trump in his posts.
Trump posted that Iran, working with the United States, had removed or was removing the mines. He welcomed the move but made clear that the U.S. blockade targeting Iranian ships and ports would stay in place until broader negotiations reached a full agreement.
Iran’s pledge denotes a sharp turnaround.
Earlier this month, after peace talks in Islamabad collapsed over Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Trump ordered the Navy to blockade ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
U.S. forces enforced the measure starting April 13, intercepting vessels linked to Iran while allowing other international traffic to continue where possible.
Iran threatened to retaliate by disrupting shipping and warned that no port in the Persian Gulf would be safe.
Revolutionary Guard commanders spoke of new methods of warfare and insisted that Iran would not yield to pressure.
Friday’s development hints Iran has softened its hardline stance that kept the Strait closed for weeks.
Iran – U.S. war.
The war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian missile sites, drone capabilities, naval assets, and parts of its nuclear infrastructure. Iran responded with attacks on shipping and attempts to assert control over the strait.
There are questions about whether Iran will keep its word of never again using the Strait to advance its military operations. The regime has been involved in breaking deals throughout the region, either directly or through proxy attacks.
Skeptics in Washington and Middle Eastern capitals noted that Iran made the statement during a fragile ceasefire and while still under blockade.
They warned that the mullahs might view the pledge as temporary relief to regroup and resume oil exports rather than a permanent policy shift.
Also Read:Â Blow to Trump as Iran Rejects Temporary Ceasefire, Issues New Demand
Energy experts said the real test would come in the volume of tankers that actually transit the strait in the next week.
If traffic returns to near-normal levels without incidents, markets could stabilize quickly. Any renewed mining or harassment would send prices climbing again.
The pledge by Iran came on the same day a Lebanon truce appeared to hold, reducing one flashpoint in the wider regional conflict.
Note that after a 14-day ceasefire was put in place recently, Iran was calling for a total ceasefire in the Middle East region, specifically demanding that Israel stop its strikes against Hezbollah.
The U.S and Israel opposed the call on the grounds that Lebanon was not part of the deal.
Trump later intervened and announced that Israel and Lebanon had reached a ceasefire deal.
