Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' and Iran will 'never close' it again, Trump announces
The US and Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that shuttles a quarter of the global oil supply, is now back open to all vessels after Tehran wrested control of the strait following the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Friday.
US President Donald Trump called it "A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!" on his Truth Social account.
"THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE," he wrote, referencing the US military blockade that went into effect earlier this week to cut off Iran's oil exports.
"THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!" Trump said.
Iran, he added, has agreed "to never close the Strait of Hormuz again", and "with the help of the USA, has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!"
United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres welcomed the decision and called it "a step in the right direction".
Conditions and denials
The Reuters news agency cited an unnamed Iranian official, however, as saying that the reopening of the strait is "conditional on US adherence to the terms of ceasefire".
Trump, however, denied that the agreement on the waterway was linked to his brokering of an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire one day earlier.
Iran had insisted that a comprehensive ceasefire agreement must include its ally Hezbollah.
"This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on TruthSocial.
"The USA will get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," he said of the enriched uranium in Iran.
"This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon... but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah [sic] situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the USA Enough is enough!!!"
The Iranian official told Reuters that "no agreement has been reached on the details of the nuclear issues" and that serious negotiations are required to reach that point.
Among the series of messages posted on his social media platform on Friday morning, Trump thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts between the two sides and expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar for their "great bravery and help".
He did not extend that courtesy to his European allies.
"Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger! President DJT".
The accusation came as an international summit on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz was underway in Paris, France.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters there that some 40 countries have agreed to accelerate military planning to restore freedom of navigation once the war is fully over.
The current two-week ceasefire is set to expire next week, but Trump is considering extending it.
Details on the international military mission will be released next week, Starmer said.
This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.
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