Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz After Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire
Iran announced on April 17 that it had reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels following the start of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
The announcement came hours after the US-brokered truce took effect at midnight on April 16-17, halting weeks of fighting that had drawn in Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the details on X.
He wrote:
"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."
Ships must follow designated lanes set by Iranian authorities and coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Military vessels or those linked to hostile forces, including those from the United States and Israel, remain barred from passage.
The strait, which carries roughly one fifth of global oil supplies, had faced restrictions amid the wider regional conflict that escalated into direct US-Iran tensions earlier this year.
Iran had imposed controls in response to Israeli actions in Lebanon and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and ships that began on April 13.
Data from shipping trackers showed limited immediate traffic after the announcement, with vessels still confined to approved corridors.
President Donald Trump welcomed the development but made clear that the American blockade would stay in place.
In a social media post, he stated the strait was "fully open and ready for full passage" while confirming the US Navy's measures would continue "until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete," including progress on Tehran's nuclear program. Trump indicated that further US-Iran talks could occur over the weekend of April 18-19.
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| Credit: The White House / X |
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued a separate warning on X early on April 18.
He said the strait "will not remain open" if the US blockade persists.
Some Iranian state media outlets, including Fars and Mehr, called for further clarification on the decision and suggested it required approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Oil prices dropped nearly 10 percent on April 17 as the news circulated, with global stock markets rising in response to the prospect of restored energy flows.
Shipping companies expressed cautious interest but sought assurances on safety, including the risk of mines in the waterway.
The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, which Israel agreed to at Trump's urging, remains fragile.
It has allowed displaced families in Lebanon to begin returning home, though sporadic incidents including an Israeli strike that killed one person were reported in the hours after it began.
Israeli forces continue to hold positions in southern Lebanon, including a buffer zone.
Hezbollah has said it will observe the truce but reserves the right to resist occupation.
The reopening provides short-term stability to energy markets tied to the ceasefire timeline, which expires next week, even as differences over the US blockade and Iran's nuclear ambitions leave the broader path to a permanent agreement unresolved.
