Iran declares Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ to all commercial ships

TEHRAN, April 17 (YPA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that the passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has been opened for the remainder of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, following the ceasefire in Lebanon, Tasnim News Agency reported.

“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,” Araghchi said in a post on X.

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

He said the passage of ships would need to be along the route that Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation had announced.

It is worth mentioning that a 10-day ceasefire between “Israel” and Hezbollah in Lebanon went into effect on Friday.

On Thursday night, Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, stating that the halt in fighting was part of a ceasefire understanding between Iran and the US mediated by Pakistan.

He noted that Iran had, from the outset of its talks with various regional and international parties—including during the Islamabad negotiations—emphasized the necessity of establishing a simultaneous ceasefire across the entire region, including Lebanon, and had continued to seriously pursue this matter following the Islamabad talks.

He noted that Iran had, from the outset of its talks with various regional and international parties—including during the Islamabad negotiations—emphasized the necessity of establishing a simultaneous ceasefire across the entire region, including Lebanon, and had continued to seriously pursue this matter following the Islamabad talks.

@E.Y.M