Donald Trump has claimed Iran has made a lifelong promise after officials announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been ‘declared completely open’ amid a two-week Iran-US ceasefire.
The president used Truth Social to share what he described as an assurance from Tehran following word that the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for global oil shipments — was open again after weeks of disruption tied to escalating tensions and recent military action.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted an update on X today (April 17), announcing the move in a statement that read: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through [the] 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.”
While Araghchi’s wording suggested the access would apply only for “the remaining period of ceasefire,” Trump described the situation in broader terms, stating on Truth Social that the Strait was “completely open and ready for business and full passage”.
At the same time, he said some measures would stay in place, writing: “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. This process should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated.”
Trump followed up with several additional posts about the development, including one where he called it a “great and brilliant day for the world”.
He then claimed Iran had made a firm commitment about the future of the key shipping lane, writing: “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
However, CBS reported that Tehran has not publicly verified any such pledge.
Even so, markets reacted quickly to the reopening news. Brent crude fell under $90 per barrel after previously trading above $98, while US stock markets moved higher. But some shipping operators working near the Strait — which links the Gulf with the Arabian Sea — suggested they were not rushing to change course immediately.
One oil and gas tanker operator told the BBC the statement on the reopening ‘doesn’t change anything’ just yet.
“We don’t feel like we need to be taking unnecessary risks, and our company approach is that we won’t be the first to go through the strait,” the company said.
Separately, International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said the agency was still assessing the announcement. In a post on X, he wrote: “We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage using the IMO established traffic separation scheme.”