Trump declares Strait of Hormuz open, keeps U.S. blockade in place
Both the U.S. and Iran announced Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open for transit, bringing major relief to oil prices. "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage," President Donald Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social after Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz was completely open "for the remaining period of the ceasefire."
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.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 17, 2026
In a series of follow-up posts, President Trump indicated that Iran is close to signing an agreement with the United States. He said that the ongoing naval blockade will continue until "such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% coimplete." The process should "go very quickly," he added, as most points have already been negotiated. Trump claimed that Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again, and thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshall Asim Munir for helping achieve what he called "a great and brilliant day for the world."
Addressing details of the agreement, President Trump said that the deal was not tied in any way to Lebanon, and that the U.S.A. "will get all Nuclear "Dust," created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form." Saying that the U.S.A will separately work with Lebanon to deal with the "Hezbollah situation", Trump also announced that "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer" as they are "PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A."
U.K., France announce defensive mission for Hormuz security
France and the United Kingdom, which were chairing a meeting of 49 more countries when the announcement was being made, welcomed the move. They, however, said that they would keep planning an international mission to restore maritime security, the Associated Press reported. French President Emmanuel Macron said after the meeting that Paris demands the "full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties."
🚨 BREAKING: Keir Starmer says the UK will lead a defensive military mission with France to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz pic.twitter.com/QUPKaywjou
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) April 17, 2026
"We welcome the announcement that was made during our meeting, but we need to make sure that it is both lasting and a workable proposal, and if anything, it reinforces the need for the work that we've been doing this afternoon," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after the meeting and announced a defensive mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for almost a fifth of maritime global energy supply. "I can confirm that, along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow. This will be strictly peaceful and defensive as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance," he said.
