Is the Strait of Hormuz really open? Here’s what you need to know about the fragile standoff

The Strait of Hormuz, which handles between 17 and 20 million barrels of oil daily, has effectively been constrained since the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, limiting global energy flows. Although the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supply, has been declared fully open for commercial vessels, its operational status remains contested. Both Washington and Tehran confirmed on Friday that the strait had been fully opened to commercial shipping.

However, US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the US naval blockade would “remain in full force.” In response, Iran warned it could close the waterway again if the US blockade continues. These conflicting statements have cast doubt on whether the strait is truly open. The following outlines the key developments amid ongoing uncertainty.

On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire,” Araghchi wrote. However, citing an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that if the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire and may close the waterway.

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The source said Iran had initially agreed to allow some vessels to pass under a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire plan, but suspended the arrangement because the ceasefire was not enforced in Lebanon and did not apply to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Iran has specified three conditions for passage: vessels must be commercial and not military, unaffiliated with hostile countries, and must follow Iran-determined routes with prior coordination with Iranian authorities, according to the source. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday welcomed Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial vessels during the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, his spokesperson said.

“The secretary-general considers this a step in the right direction,” said spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a statement. “The secretary-general remains fully supportive of diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful path forward out of the current conflict in the Middle East.”

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