Spanish
Tehran.- Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz this Friday after the beginning of the truce in Lebanon, but threatened to close it again if the United States maintains the naval blockade on this country, as announced by the American president, Donald Trump.
"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage of all merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz is declared fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X.
The head of Iranian diplomacy clarified that the transit must be carried out via the previously announced route, which passes through Larak Island. Araqchi, however, did not explain whether he was referring to the ceasefire agreed with the United States, which ends this Wednesday, or to the one closed yesterday between Lebanon and Israel, which will last for 10 days after negotiations mediated by Washington.The end of hostilities in Lebanon was one of the ten Iranian conditions of the ceasefire reached by Iran and the United States on the 8th, but Israel continued to attack Lebanese territory despite this, in bombings in which more than 2,200 people have died, according to Lebanese authorities.
At the same time, Tehran pledged to allow the navigation of ships through Hormuz as part of the agreement with Washington, but in fact the transit of ships decreased after the truce came into effect. Araqchí's message caused a drop in the price of oil and a rise in stock markets worldwide. Despite the Iranian announcement, Trump stated that the United States will maintain the naval blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports until there is an agreement, which he ordered after the failure of the talks last weekend in Islamabad. "The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for trade and free transit, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect with respect to Iran, only until our negotiation with Iran is 100% complete," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. In response, Iranian media linked to the Revolutionary Guard stated that if the United States fulfills that threat, the Islamic Republic will close the passage again.You may be interested in: Trump announces he maintains the naval blockade of Iran despite the reopening of Hormuz
"If the (US) maritime block is maintained, it will be considered a violation of the ceasefire and transit through the Strait of Hormuz will be closed," indicated the Fars and Tasnim agencies, both linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which cited sources close to the Supreme National Security Council. Following the lack of agreement in Islamabad, high-ranking Pakistani officials acting as intermediaries are trying to hold a second round in search of a peace agreement. The Pakistani Army chief, Marshal Asim Munir, made a visit to Tehran in recent days, where he met with senior Iranian officials, amid speculation of an extension of the ceasefire. Trump, however, said yesterday that he does not see it necessary to extend the current ceasefire with Iran because he believes that Washington and Tehran could soon reach a peace agreement.
