Iran Says Strait Of Hormuz Open during Ceasefire Period

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial shipping for the remainder of a temporary ceasefire, following weeks of disruption in one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.

“In line with the ceasefire … the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open,” Araghchi said in a statement, adding that vessels would use coordinated routes set by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

The announcement follows heightened tensions after Iran had effectively restricted access to the strait in response to a U.S.-Israeli strike earlier this year, raising concerns over global energy supplies and prompting fears of a wider regional escalation.

The United States had earlier said it was preparing a naval blockade of the waterway, though there was no immediate response to Iran’s latest statement.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil consumption passes, making it critical to energy markets in Asia, Europe and beyond. Any disruption typically leads to sharp volatility in oil prices and shipping costs.

The current two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, brokered amid rising tensions in the Middle East, is due to expire on April 22. Analysts say the situation remains fragile, with uncertainty over whether safe passage will continue once the truce ends.

By agencies