Trump and Iran Announce Strait of Hormuz Fully Open to Commercial Shipping

President Trump and Iran’s foreign minister have both stated that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, marking a significant development in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.

The announcement came on April 17, 2026, following a series of diplomatic engagements, including a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that paved the way for renewed discussions on maritime security in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on social media that, in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remainder of the ceasefire period, following a coordinated route previously announced by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

President Trump echoed the sentiment, claiming on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, describing the development as “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!” He also stated that Iran had agreed to indefinitely suspend its nuclear programme and would not receive any frozen funds from the United States.

Despite the optimistic declarations, analysts and maritime experts have expressed caution, noting that few vessels are likely to risk passage through the strait amid ongoing uncertainties. Observers point out that the U.S. Blockade on Iranian shipping remains in place, and Iran’s own conditions for safe passage continue to mirror previous restrictions, creating hesitation among commercial operators.

Maritime tracking data showed that several tankers and cargo ships attempted to exit the strait via the route designated by Iran around Larak Island on Friday but turned back after receiving no clear authorization to proceed, according to reports from commodity research firm Kpler.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies typically transit. Since the escalation of hostilities in late February, maritime traffic through the waterway has been severely disrupted, contributing to volatility in global energy markets.

Following the announcement, oil prices reacted sharply, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settling down 12% at $83.85 per barrel and Brent crude futures falling 9% on Friday, reflecting market optimism about a potential easing of supply constraints.

However, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf later warned that if the U.S. Blockade continued, “the strait of Hormuz will not remain open,” emphasizing that the status of the waterway would ultimately be determined by conditions on the ground rather than diplomatic statements.

As of the latest reports, no widespread resumption of commercial shipping has been observed, and experts suggest that a return to pre-conflict traffic levels remains distant despite the diplomatic breakthroughs.