Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Iran Announces Strait of Hormuz Now Open

Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to all commercial ships and will remain so during the ceasefire period between Israel and Lebanon.

“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the shipping route for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period,” said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a post on social media platform X, as reported by Al Jazeera on Friday (17/4/2026).

A 10-day ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday evening. However, it remains unclear whether the armed group Hezbollah, which has been involved in fighting against Israel’s invasion in southern Lebanon in the Iran conflict, will recognise the agreement.

Araghchi added that shipping through the strait will follow the coordinated routes previously announced by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

US President Donald Trump also confirmed via social media that the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open and ready for full business and shipping activity”. However, he emphasised that the blockade will remain in place until Iran reaches an agreement with the US to end the war.

The war between the US-Israel and Iran, which began on 28 February, has killed thousands of people. The conflict had previously led Iran to restrict traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.

Meanwhile, the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf region after US-Iran talks in Pakistan on Sunday failed to achieve a breakthrough.