Iran on Friday announced that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" for commercial shipping for the remaining period of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, signalling a calibrated easing of restrictions amid a fragile ceasefire in the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the move aligns with the ongoing truce linked to the Israel-Lebanon conflict. In a post on X, he stated, "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 Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

US President Donald Trump also welcomed the Iranian announcement in a Truth Social post. "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank You!"

The development follows Trump announcing a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a rare diplomatic breakthrough after weeks of hostilities. While Trump's initial statement did not explicitly mention Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group at the centre of cross-border clashes, he later urged restraint, saying, "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time."

Washington has also moved to build on the truce. Trump said he would host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House for further discussions aimed at stabilising the situation.

According to US officials, the ceasefire will last 10 days and could be extended if negotiations progress. The framework allows Israel to take "necessary measures in self-defence" against imminent threats, while Lebanon is expected to prevent attacks by Hezbollah and other armed groups within its territory. Responsibility for maintaining internal security rests with Lebanese state forces, alongside continued US-mediated engagement.

The ceasefire represents a key step in Washington's efforts to reach a deal to end its war with Iran, with Tehran insisting a Lebanon truce must be part of any agreement.

Mediator Islamabad has been leading the international push to restart face-to-face talks between Tehran and Washington with Trump signaling he might fly to Pakistan to sign any agreement- adding they were "very close" to striking one.

The fighting in Lebanon broke out on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel just a few days after the start of the Middle East war in retribution for the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the opening waves of US-Israeli strikes.

Source: Moneycontrol 

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