Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to all commercial shipping for the remaining duration of the Lebanon ceasefire, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday, linking the move directly to the implementation of the truce agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
In a post on social media, Araghchi stated: "In the context of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage of all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared fully free for the remainder of the ceasefire period, following the coordinated route as already announced by the Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The announcement marks a significant shift in Iran's posture over the strategically vital waterway, which Tehran has kept under severe restrictions since the outbreak of the war with the United States and Israel in late February. Araghchi said the movement of vessels would proceed via a coordinated route already established by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organisation.
The development coincided with the first loaded Iranian tankers to leave the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since the US naval blockade took effect. According to maritime tracking firm Kpler, three Iranian tankers, the Deep Sea, the Sonia I and the Diona, carrying a combined five million barrels of crude oil, transited the Strait on Wednesday after being loaded at Iran's Kharg Island earlier this month. Kpler told AFP that no Iranian crude tanker had left the Gulf through the Strait since 10 April, when the vessel Starla departed. The United States imposed its blockade on Iranian ports on Monday, in an effort to prevent Tehran from exporting oil.