US President Donald Trump said on Friday, April 17, that the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open” to commercial shipping, following an announcement by Iran.
“Iran has just announced that the Strait is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that passage for all commercial vessels had been declared “completely open” for the duration of the ceasefire.
The reopening is tied to a temporary ceasefire linked to the Israel-Lebanon conflict, which has raised cautious optimism about easing tensions in the region.
In a separate post, Trump said that while the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” for global shipping, a US naval blockade targeting Iran remains in effect. Trump said the blockade applies specifically to vessels linked to Iran and will stay in place until a broader agreement with Tehran is finalized.
His comments suggest that, in practice, commercial traffic may be allowed to pass through the strait, potentially under certain conditions, while ships leaving or heading to Iran remain restricted, based on previous seafarer notices issued by the US military.
There has been no immediate independent confirmation of the full reopening, and it remains unclear how consistently safe passage will be maintained.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route, handling a significant share of the world’s oil supply. Previous disruptions to shipping through the waterway had contributed to volatility in global energy markets.
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The waterway had been effectively disrupted for weeks amid escalating tensions involving Iran and US-led actions in the region. On Wednesday, Trump claimed that he is “permanently opening” the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on his Truth Social platform, without providing details or evidence.
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