Iran opens Hormuz for all, Trump says US blockade will continue in full force

US President Donald Trump, through a post on Truth Social, expressed his gratitude to Iran for opening the Strait of Hormuz. However, he said that the naval blockade will continue to exist.

In Short

• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi confirms opening of Strait of Hormuz
• US President Donald Trump thanked Iran for the move openly
• Passage of all vessels now allowed through the conflict-torn maritime chokepoint

Providing major relief to all nations across the world, Iran, on Friday, finally opened the conflict-torn maritime chokepoint Strait of Hormuz for the passage of all commercial vessels, after a ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. The development came more than 40 days after the West Asia conflict broke out.

Speaking on the development, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, said, "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by the Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The development immediately drew the attention of US President Donald Trump, who took the issue to Truth Social and expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic.

"Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank you!"

However, Trump mentioned that the US naval blockade on ships exiting or entering Iranian ports will continue in the upcoming time.

"The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete. This process should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

On March 2, Iran officially announced a restriction on the passage of vessels belonging to the 'unfriendly nations' through one of the world's busiest energy corridors, after a combined attack by the United States and Israel targeted military infrastructure and the residences and offices of several high-level Iranian officials. The attacks killed the erstwhile Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The closure resulted in an energy crisis across the world, with oil prices increasing rapidly. India also witnessed a brief period of the LPG crisis as several ships were struck in the Hormuz. However, the situation eased quickly as those LPG tankers successfully transited through the chokepoint.

The hope of normalcy first glimmered when the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week temporary truce on April 8. As part of the ceasefire conditions, Iran was asked to open the Strait.

However, that hope faded soon as Israel doubled down on its attacks on Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. The attacks killed at least 254 people on one single day. Following the attacks, Iran shut down Hormuz fully.

The situation became further critical as Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would blockade the maritime access to Iranian ports through Hormuz.

The long-standing complications surrounding the Strait were finally resolved on Friday following the successful ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

- Ends