Iran said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully reopened to international shipping following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, prompting thanks from President Donald Trump – who then said that US naval blockade in Iranian ports will continue.
“In accordance with the ceasefire in LebanonThe passage for all merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been declared fully open for the remaining period of the ceasefire, in the coordinated route as already announced,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Trump first thanked Iran in a POST on his social network “Truth”. However, about 20 minutes later, the president posted again on the page, writing:
THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL BUSINESS AND PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT BY IRAN ONLY TILL TIME. 100% COMPLETE. THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE VERY FAST AS MOST OF THE POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN NEGOTIATED.
USA, Iran and Israel agreed for a two-week truce on April 7, after Trump threatened a genocidal attack on Iran, saying “an entire civilization will die tonight” if there was no deal by that day. Officials from all sides clarified that the ceasefire did not signal the end of the ongoing war.
Friday’s announcements followed the implementation of a 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, where nearly 50 days of Israeli bombardment have killed or wounded thousands of Lebaneseincluding hundreds the childrenand displaced more than a million others.
It is unclear how Hezbollahwhich did not participate in the ceasefire negotiations, will respond. The Lebanon-based militant group has taken revenge on Israel genocide IN Gaza and attacks in Lebanon with rocket and drone strikes on Israel, and the Lebanese government is largely unable to stop Hezbollah from further attacks if it decides to launch them.
Thousands of Iranians have also been killed or wounded by US and Israeli bombing since February 28, the day the war began. This was also the day a US missile hit a girls’ school in Minab killed 168 peoplemainly children.
About half an hour after Trump’s Friday tweet confirming the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the president took to Truth Social again, this time announcing that “The US, separately, will work with Lebanon and handle the Hezboolah (sic) situation properly. Israel will no longer bomb Lebanon. They are FORBIDDEN from doing so by the US Enough is enough!!!”
Lebanese and Israeli media reported that, minutes after Trump’s alleged ban, Israel then launched a drone strike targeting a motorcycle between the southern Lebanese towns of Kounine and Beit Yahoun, killing one person. The terms of Thursday’s ceasefire allow Israel to carry out “defensive” strikes against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”.
