BEIRUT – Iran announced on Friday the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but uncertainties persist regarding the extent of freedom for ships to transit the vital waterway. Tehran has maintained its control over passage and has threatened to reimpose closure if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ships and ports.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Iran’s announcement regarding the crucial maritime route, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil is transported, coincided with a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appearing to hold.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the American blockade would “remain in full force” until Tehran reaches an agreement with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Responding to a reporter’s question on Friday night about his actions if no deal is reached when the ceasefire expires next week, Trump indicated uncertainty but also suggested a potential resolution, stating, “a deal is ‘going to happen.’” He unequivocally rejected any notion of restrictions or tolls imposed by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Trump had welcomed Iran’s announcement on social media, declaring the strait “fully open and ready for full passage.” However, he subsequently posted that the U.S. Navy’s blockade would continue “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100 PER CENT COMPLETE.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated via social media that ships would utilize routes designated by the Islamic Republic in coordination with Iranian authorities, suggesting Iran intended to retain a degree of oversight over the channel. It remains unclear whether vessels will be subject to tolls.
Iranian officials asserted that the blockade constitutes a violation of the prior week’s ceasefire agreement between Iran and the U.S. The parliamentary speaker of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, posted on social media early Saturday that the Strait “will not remain open” if the blockade persists. Data firm Kpler reported that movement through the strait remained restricted to corridors requiring Iran’s authorization.
According to U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces have returned 21 ships to Iran since the commencement of the blockade on Monday. President Trump had imposed the blockade as part of an effort to compel Iran to open the strait and accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to end a nearly seven-week conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran.
The President’s decision to maintain the blockade, despite Iran’s reopening announcement, appeared to be a tactic to exert continued pressure on Tehran as the stability of the two-week ceasefire remained in doubt. Direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran the previous weekend concluded without an agreement, as both nations failed to resolve differences regarding Iran’s nuclear program and other issues. Trump suggested that a second round of talks could occur over the weekend.
Oil prices saw a decline on Friday amid hopes of an impending agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The head of the International Energy Agency had previously warned of a potential exacerbation of the energy crisis if the strait did not reopen. Reports from two Iranian semi-official news agencies, Fars and Mehr, appeared to question Araghchi’s announcement regarding the strait, citing a lack of clarity and the need for approval from the Supreme National Security Council and the supreme leader.
The ceasefire in Lebanon, which has seen celebrations in Beirut, could potentially remove a significant impediment to a U.S.-Iran agreement to end the war. However, the extent to which Hezbollah would adhere to a deal it did not negotiate, and which would leave Israeli troops occupying a segment of southern Lebanon, remained uncertain. President Trump posted that Israel was “prohibited” by the U.S. from further offensive actions in Lebanon, stating “enough is enough” in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s agreement to the ceasefire at Trump’s request but emphasized that the campaign against Hezbollah was incomplete, claiming significant destruction of the group’s missile stockpiles.
Despite the ceasefire, sporadic artillery shelling was reported in parts of southern Lebanon shortly after its commencement. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported an Israeli strike on a car and motorcycle in the Kounine area, resulting in one death and three injuries, including a Syrian citizen. There was no immediate response from the Israeli army or Hezbollah. An end to Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah was a primary demand of Iranian negotiators, who had accused Israel of breaching the prior ceasefire with strikes on Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Gulf Arab states, and among U.S. service members.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, indicated that Israel would maintain its current positions in southern Lebanon, including a buffer zone. Hezbollah has stated that the Lebanese people have “the right to resist” Israeli occupation. Mediators are reportedly seeking a compromise on Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for war damages. Trump suggested that Iran had agreed to relinquish its enriched uranium, referring to it as “nuclear dust.” The implications of such a concession, if true, would be significant for the U.S. demand to end the conflict, though neither Iran nor intermediary nations have confirmed such an agreement.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
