Strait of Hormuz Reopened, Here's the World's Reaction

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital energy shipping route, has reopened, though overshadowed by conflicting messages from the main conflict actors.

The Iranian government and US President Donald Trump both stated on Friday (17/4/2026) that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to commercial ships. The statement comes amid a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect the previous day, sparking cautious optimism in markets and the international community.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Friday that the route has been “fully opened”. “It is ‘declared fully open’ and will remain open for the remainder of the 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire period,” he wrote.

Here are statements from various countries and international organisations regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as quoted from Al Jazeera:

United States

“The Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for full business and shipping activity, but the naval blockade will remain fully and effectively in place specifically against Iran alone, until our agreement with Iran is completely finalised 100%,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

A few minutes later, he posted another statement mentioning that the US Navy blockade against Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full effect” until Tehran reaches an agreement with Washington, including on its nuclear programme.

Later, Trump told AFP news agency that an agreement to end the war with Iran is “close”, while emphasising there are no longer any “sticking points” between Washington and Tehran.

Iran

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on platform X that the strait has been “declared fully open” and will remain open during the remaining period of the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect from Thursday night to Friday.

However, several reports from Iranian state media later appeared to contradict that statement. A senior military official told state media that only non-military ships are permitted to pass, and even then with permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC).

The Fars news agency, close to the IRGC, noted an “odd silence” from the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s de facto main decision-making body, amid uncertainty over the status of the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

United Kingdom

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-hosted a meeting on a potential military mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday, with around 30 to 40 countries participating in person or via video conference.

During the meeting, Starmer cautiously welcomed the news of the strait’s reopening but stressed that the step must be “both sustainable and practically implementable”.

He said the UK and France would lead a multinational mission that is “entirely peaceful and defensive” to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow.

France

Speaking after the meeting, Macron said, “We all demand the full, immediate, and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties.”

“We all reject any restrictions or agreement systems that in practice amount to attempts to privatise the strait, and of course any tariff system,” he added.

Macron’s office stated that the role of international coalition members working to reopen the strait could include “intelligence, mine-clearing capabilities, military escort [and] communication procedures with coastal states”.

Germany

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany could contribute to mine-clearing and intelligence capabilities for the international mission but would require parliamentary support and a “secure legal basis” such as a UN Security Council resolution.

He also expressed a desire for US involvement in the international mission to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “We believe that would be desirable,” he said.

Trump later appeared to reject the offer, stating on social media that he received a call from NATO but firmly declined their assistance.

Finland

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who participated in the Paris meeting, wrote on X, “We welcome Iran’s announcement regarding the opening of the strait. A long-term solution requires diplomacy.”

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Iran’s opening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and called it a “step in the right direction”.

International Maritime Organisation

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the UN shipping agency, said, “We are currently verifying the latest announcement regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all commercial vessels and shipping security.”

Shipping Companies

The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association stated there are still several issues to clarify before ships can pass through the strait, including the presence of mines, Iran’s conditions, and on-the-ground implementation.

“If this is a step towards opening, then it is a welcome development,” said Knut Arild Hareide, CEO of the association representing 130 companies with around 1,500 ships.

A spokesperson for German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said the company is beginning to assess the new situation and associated risks. “For now, we are holding back from crossing the strait.”

In its statement, Danish company Maersk said it has noted the announcement. “The safety of crew, ships, and customer cargo remains our priority. Since the conflict broke out, we have followed guidance from our security partners in the region, and their recommendation so far is to avoid