Iran announces Hormuz reopening as blockade standoff continues

Iran announced Friday it reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but questions lingered about whether ships actually had freedom to transit as the United States maintained its blockade. The waterway carries about 20% of the world’s oil and has been blocked by U.S. Navy forces since Monday as part of pressure in an ongoing conflict that has killed thousands across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Gulf region.

The opening of the critical shipping lane offers a potential path toward broader negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, though deep disagreements over nuclear weapons, war damages, and Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory remain unresolved as mediators push for compromise on three core issues.

Iran’s contested reopening

Iran announced the reopening, but questions immediately emerged about what “open” meant. Trump posted on social media that the strait was “fully open and ready for full passage,” but minutes later posted again saying the U.S. Navy’s blockade would continue “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that ships would use routes designated by the Islamic Republic in coordination with Iranian authorities, suggesting Tehran retained decisive control over passage. Data firm Kpler reported that movement through the waterway remained confined to corridors requiring Iran’s approval.

Trump’s pressure and conditions

Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Asked what would happen if no deal emerged when the ceasefire expires, Trump replied: “I don’t know. … But maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.”

U.S. Central Command said it had sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began Monday. Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted that the strait “will not remain open” if the blockade continues.

Ceasefire opens path to talks

A 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to be holding. Trump told reporters that “the Iranians want to meet” and “they want to make a deal.” He said “a meeting will probably take place over the weekend.” Oil prices fell Friday on hopes the U.S. and Iran were drawing closer to agreement.

The contested agenda: nuclear weapons, occupation, and casualties

Mediators are pushing for compromise on three main points: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for wartime damages. Trump said in a speech that “the USA will get all the nuclear dust” from Iran, referring to enriched uranium he said was buried beneath Iranian nuclear sites the U.S. bombed during last year’s 12-day war. He said the U.S. would obtain it “by going in with Iran with lots of excavators.”

Trump also said no money would exchange hands to end the war. Neither Iran nor countries acting as intermediaries have confirmed that Tehran agreed to hand over enriched uranium.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel agreed to the Lebanon ceasefire “at the request of my friend President Trump,” but said the campaign against Hezbollah was not complete. Netanyahu claimed Israel had destroyed about 90% of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket stockpiles. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue to hold all places where it was currently stationed, including a buffer zone extending 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) into southern Lebanon. He said many homes in the area would be destroyed and Lebanese residents would not return.

An Israeli airstrike in the Kounine area of southern Lebanon killed one person and wounded three others, including a Syrian citizen, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. It was the first reported airstrike since the ceasefire took effect.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and 13 U.S. service members. In Beirut, celebratory gunshots marked the start of the truce, and displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon despite official warnings not to return until it becomes clear whether the ceasefire holds.

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