BREAKING: Iran Restores Maritime Passage Through Strait of Hormuz for Crude Oil Vessels

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain accessible to commercial ships as long as the ceasefire in the Middle East is maintained, emphasizing that the passage will be "completely open" for all commercial vessels during this period.

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Araghchi made this declaration on X, stating that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to all commercial ships, although it is unclear whether this statement refers to the 10-day truce between Lebanon and Israel that began at midnight or the two-week truce between Iran and the United States that started on April 8.

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Iran had previously blocked passage through the Strait, causing significant disruptions to the global economy, and had made the extension of a ceasefire to Lebanon a condition for reopening the waterway, according to state media reports.

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The conflict in the region began on February 28, when Hezbollah, in support of Iran, attacked Israel, drawing Lebanon into the broader war launched by the United States and Israel.

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An Iranian senior military official specified that only civilian vessels will be permitted to pass through designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz, and only with the permission of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy.

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The official also clarified that the passage of military vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains prohibited, emphasizing the restrictions on naval traffic in the region.

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US President Donald Trump responded to the Iranian announcement by welcoming the decision to open the Strait of Hormuz, but he also stated that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place until a peace deal with Tehran is reached.

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Trump took to his Truth Social network to announce that the naval blockade will "remain in full force and effect" until the US transaction with Iran is "100% complete", adding that this process is expected to move quickly.

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The announcement of the Strait's reopening led to a significant drop in oil prices, which had previously spiked due to supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the region.