Iran Confirms Strait of Hormuz Open to Commercial Ships Under U.S. Deal

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial shipping, aligning with a preliminary agreement reached with the United States. This accord, aimed at extending a ceasefire for 60 days, ensures that vessels can navigate the crucial waterway without incurring payments during this period. Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, emphasized that the situation in the strait will not revert to its pre-war state. He indicated that Iran's future stance on transit, particularly for military vessels, will be contingent on the ongoing negotiations. "We will not allow them to continue preparing to attack our country in the future," Bahreini stated, without detailing specific control measures. Iran also plans to discuss necessary arrangements for the strait with Oman, with whom it shares sovereignty over the passage. Separately, the ambassador refuted claims that Iran has agreed to IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities, stating no serious negotiations have occurred on the matter. He also asserted Iran's sole authority over the use of its unfrozen assets, totaling $12 billion, which will be released in two $6 billion tranches. Bahreini described the negotiations with the U.S. as cautious, driven by a desire to avoid further harm to the global economy and in response to requests from friendly nations.

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the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open for commercial vessels”