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(2nd LD) Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz; Trump says blockade will remain until deal is signed
Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, but President Trump insists the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain until a deal is signed. The move comes amid a fragile ceasefire, with conflicting signals from Tehran and Washington over the terms of any agreement.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping on Friday, a move that briefly sent oil prices tumbling, but US President Donald Trump said the American naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain until a deal is signed. "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 percent complete," Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to reports from Yonhap and ABC Australia.
Coverage comparison
Coverage of the reopening has been dominated by two threads: Iran's conditional opening of the strait and Trump's insistence that the blockade will stay. Al Jazeera reported that Iranian officials pushed back against Trump's claims about the negotiations, highlighting "deep contradictions in messaging." Iran's foreign ministry said enriched uranium would not be transferred "anywhere," contradicting Trump's suggestion that Tehran had agreed to hand it over. Trump, meanwhile, said there were no "sticking points" left, but that the blockade would remain until the deal was "100 percent complete," according to the same report.
TASS, the Russian state news agency, quoted Trump telling Bloomberg: "They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I'm not opening it until a deal is signed." TASS also reported Trump's claim that Iran could make "$500 million dollars a day" if the strait were open, and that lifting the blockade would make a deal impossible.
Dawn, the Pakistani daily, focused on the diplomatic maneuvering, noting that a US delegation was expected in Islamabad for a second round of talks, and that Iran appeared open to sending negotiators. The paper also reported Pakistan's role as an intermediary, with PM Shehbaz Sharif and army chief being praised by Trump.
Yonhap, the South Korean wire service, carried Trump's social media posts and his claim that Iran had agreed to "never close" the strait again, alongside Ghalibaf's response that the strait would not remain open under a US blockade.
Key claims
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday in line with a Lebanon ceasefire, according to statements by FM Araghchi carried by multiple outlets. Araghchi said the strait was "completely" open on a "coordinated route."
Trump immediately countered that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain until a deal was signed, as reported by Yonhap and ABC Australia.
Iran's parliament speaker Mohamamd Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that with the US blockade, the strait will not remain open, per Yonhap.
Trump claimed that Iran could make $500 million a day if the strait were open, and that lifting the blockade would make a deal impossible, per TASS.
Iran's foreign ministry denied Trump's claim that Tehran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, saying the stockpile will not be transferred "anywhere," as reported by Al Jazeera.
About a dozen ships turned back after heading toward the strait following the reopening announcement, per ABC Australia, and Iran's navy has been relaying threats via Marine VHF 16.
Oil prices fell sharply after the announcement, with Brent crude opening around $98 and dropping to $86.52 within two hours, according to a single report.
Perspectives
US Administration: Trump projects optimism about a deal while maintaining pressure. He says the blockade is effective and will remain until a deal is fully completed. He denies reports of a cash-for-uranium deal, calling them "totally false," and says Iran has agreed to never close the strait again.
Iranian Government: Iran frames the reopening as a goodwill gesture conditioned on the US lifting its blockade and adhering to the ceasefire. Officials reject Trump's claims about uranium transfer and warn that the strait could close again if the blockade continues. They also criticize US actions as "piracy" and violations of the ceasefire.
International Mediators: Pakistan is central to facilitating talks, hosting rounds in Islamabad and relaying proposals. European leaders and Russia call for continued diplomacy and de-escalation. China's Xi Jinping supports normal traffic through the strait, while France and Britain propose a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation.
Observers: Analysts note the contradiction between Iran's declared reopening and the practical obstacles—ships turned back, and the strait remains under threat of closure. The involvement of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier and continued naval activities indicate the situation remains volatile.
This article is based on initial reports and may be updated as more information becomes available.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimUS President Donald Trump said he will not open the Strait of Hormuz until an agreement with Iran is signed.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from TASS — Englishthe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimThe United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28.
ClaimThe Iranian delegation at the April 11 talks was led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation by Vice President JD Vance.
ClaimAn unnamed Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran was considering attending talks after reported moves by Islamabad to end a US blockade of Iranian ports.
ClaimTrump said the results in Iran will be amazing and that a nuclear deal being negotiated with Iran would be better than the 2015 international agreement.
ClaimIran's foreign ministry said the US was not serious about pursuing diplomacy, citing violations of the two-week ceasefire, including a US attack on an Iranian cargo ship, a naval blockade, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon.
ClaimPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a phone call from European Council President António Costa, expressing desire for continuation of dialogue.
ClaimRussian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated the need to uphold the ceasefire and stressed continued diplomatic efforts in a call with his Iranian counterpart.
ClaimTrump denied reports of a $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal, saying it is 'totally false' and no money will change hands.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from ABC Australiathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimIran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping, leading to a 10 per cent drop in the price of oil.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from ABC Australiathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimAbout a dozen ships headed towards the Strait of Hormuz after the reopening announcement but turned back around a few hours later.
ClaimOil prices had previously peaked at nearly $120 a barrel after Iran first closed the strait, knocking 500 million barrels of crude and condensate out of the market.
ClaimA senior Iranian source said Tehran hoped to reach a preliminary agreement and sought ceasefire extension to create space for lifting sanctions and securing compensation.
ClaimTrump told oil executives that the US could extend the naval blockade for months, saying 'Iran can't get their act together… They better get smart soon'.
ClaimDuring a state dinner, Trump told King Charles III that Iran had been 'more likely defeated' and that Charles agreed with him more than even himself.
ClaimGhalibaf said a complete ceasefire only makes sense if not violated by the US naval blockade, and the strait cannot remain open under such a blockade.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from Dawnthe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimIranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baqaei said diplomacy is a tool to secure national interests and Iran will act when necessary groundwork is in place.
ClaimUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the proposed strait-for-easing proposal, saying the US must ensure any deal prevents Iran from sprinting towards nuclear weapons.
ClaimBritain and France will lead a multinational mission to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz 'as soon as conditions allow', said UK PM Keir Starmer.
ClaimTrump said negotiations are going 'very well' but warned the ceasefire may not be extended without a deal, and claimed Tehran could hand over enriched uranium.
ClaimA proposal under discussion involves releasing up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran surrendering its enriched uranium stock and accepting a moratorium.