Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships following the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. This was announced on the social network X by the country's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
"In accordance with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage of all commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz is declared fully open for the remaining period of the ceasefire, along the coordinated route, as already announced by the Ports and Shipping Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the recent ceasefire agreement, and US President Donald Trump said that the war in Iran should end very soon.
Hundreds of tankers and other ships, along with 20,000 sailors, have been blocked in the Persian Gulf since the war began on February 28.
The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, which is only 34 km wide, connects the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean and is a major route for energy supplies from The Middle East and other vital goods, including fertilizers.
On April 13, the United States imposed a blockade on oil tankers leaving Iranian ports after talks with Iran in Islamabad on April 11 failed. In response, Tehran threatened to block trade through the Red Sea, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, if the US naval blockade continued.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has been unacceptable so far, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said at a press conference in response to a question related to reports that Iran would open the area to traffic while the ceasefire lasts.
Freedom of navigation is very important for the EU, Šuica said. International law does not allow the imposition of fees for the passage of waterways, she noted. We strongly support international law, the European Commissioner pointed out.
For us, waterways are a public good. We cannot afford to lose another trade route, we expect shipping through the strait to be free, added Shuitza.