Above photo: AA/Getty Images.
The global price of oil witnessed a significant drop after the announcement.
Trump thanked Tehran for opening the ‘Strait of Iran’ while vowing to keep in place his blockade on the country’s ports.
The Islamic Republic of Iran announced on 17 April the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following the fulfillment of its condition for a complete cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.
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 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 Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to respond to Tehran’s announcement.
“IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!” the president wrote.
It is unclear if he meant to say the “Strait of Iran” or if it was a typo.
“THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT 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 added in a separate post minutes later.
Markets immediately began reacting to the news of the strait’s reopening. The Brent Crude global benchmark dropped by 9.5 percent, to just below $90 per barrel. Meanwhile, the US benchmark WTI fell 9.6 percent to $82.60 per barrel.
The news came as the UK and France were preparing on Friday to lead a meeting of about 40 states, aimed at discussing the formation of a strictly defensive international task force to reopen the strait – the passageway for around 20 percent of the world’s energy.
After the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in late February, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to Washington and its allies, and targeted vessels that attempted to cross in violation of its warnings.
France and other nations rejected US proposals to reopen the strait by force. Russian and Chinese vetoes also recently prevented a Bahraini proposal at the UN aimed at opening the strait by any means necessary.
Tankers belonging to France, Japan, Oman, Turkiye, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and other countries were allowed to cross the strait after coordination with Tehran in recent weeks. Iran has reportedly been charging heavy transit fees.
Around one week remains until the end of the two-week ceasefire reached earlier this month between the US and Iran. Tehran has continued to demand sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, reparations from the US and Israel for their wars, and a comprehensive truce including Lebanon and others in the region.
While US–Iran negotiations in Pakistan ended without an agreement last weekend, talks are expected to resume in the coming days.
Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports right after the Islamabad talks.
Two days ago, the Russian Security Council said ceasefire negotiations could be a cover used by Washington to prepare for a ground war against Iran.
Iran ships 11m barrels of oil since launch of Washington’s Hormuz blockade: Report
Multiple sources report tanker movements through Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, challenging US claims that no vessels have breached the blockade
Iranian oil shipments have continued moving through Persian Gulf waters despite a US-imposed naval blockade, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported on 16 April, with multiple tracking sources reporting tanker activity in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman in recent days.
Fars reported that Iranian tankers transported around 11 million barrels of oil through the Sea of Oman toward undisclosed destinations after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Citing a ship-tracking website, the Iranian news outlet said this marked the first time shipments linked to Iran exited the “blockade zone” since its imposition.
The agency added that earlier breaches had occurred through vessels approaching the Gulf from international waters.
TankerTrackers.com said it had “VISUAL CONFIRMATION” that Iran shipped nine million barrels from floating storage in the Gulf of Oman after the blockade began, with an additional two million barrels departing just before its enforcement.
BREAKING; VISUAL CONFIRMATION: IRAN HAS SHIPPED OUT NINE MILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL FROM FLOATING STORAGE IN THE GULF OF OMAN SINCE THE US BLOCKADE WENT INTO EFFECT ON 2026-04-13 AT 14:00 UTC
ANOTHER TWO MILLION BARRELS DEPARTED ON 2026-04-12#OOTT #IranWar #Tankers
— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) April 16, 2026
Separate ship-tracking data cited by Bloomberg showed that at least two US-sanctioned vessels linked to Iran entered the Persian Gulf on Thursday using a route between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands.
One of the vessels, a supertanker capable of carrying up to two million barrels, entered empty and signaled it was awaiting further instructions.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that vessel movements between 14 and 15 April indicate continued Iranian-linked activity, describing one tanker’s route as a likely “blockade-breaking movement.”
It added that export operations remain active, supported by loading at Kharg Island and tactics such as “spoofing and reduced visibility.”
The Pentagon said that the US Navy has turned back 13 ships since enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, warning vessels they would be boarded or face force if they attempted to pass.
The US recently announced new sanctions on 16 April targeting Iran’s oil sector, focusing on a shipping network linked to Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, with measures imposed on over two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels accused of evading restrictions.
🚨 SECWAR PETE HEGSETH JUST SENT SHIVERS DOWN THE IRGC!
This blockade “is the POLITE way that this can go. Your energy is not moving and will not move and we can do this all day.”
“The math is clear. We’re using 10% of the world’s most powerful navy and you have 0% of your… pic.twitter.com/akMrQdjJfg
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 16, 2026
US officials said the move aims to curb Iran’s oil revenues as Tehran maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the war, while Washington continues its naval blockade and expands financial pressure through additional sanctions tied to alleged oil-for-gold schemes and support networks.
