Beirut/Paris. Iran said Friday it has fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, easing fears of a prolonged disruption to global oil flows. But US President Donald Trump signaled that Washington will keep its blockade on Iranian ships and ports in place, maintaining pressure on Tehran amid stalled negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the vital waterway, which carries about 20% of global oil shipments, is now “completely open” following a fragile 10-day truce linked to fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Trump initially welcomed the reopening, calling the strait “fully open and ready for full passage,” but minutes later said the US Navy’s blockade would remain “in full force” until a broader agreement with Iran is reached, declaring in an all-caps post that it would stay in place “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”

The US imposed the blockade earlier this week after Iran restricted shipping through the strait, citing violations of a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire involving Washington, Tehran, and Israel. Trump framed the move as an “all or none” strategy to force Iran to restore navigation.

Despite Tehran’s announcement, the decision to keep the blockade underscores Washington’s effort to retain leverage as diplomatic talks remain inconclusive. Discussions last weekend failed to bridge gaps over Iran’s nuclear activities and other key issues.

Oil prices fell following news of the reopening, after the International Energy Agency warned that prolonged disruption could trigger broader energy shocks.

Fragile Truce in Lebanon

The easing of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz comes as a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, raising cautious hopes for wider de-escalation. However, uncertainty remains over whether Hezbollah will fully adhere to an agreement it did not negotiate, and with Israeli troops still deployed in parts of southern Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel accepted the truce at Trump’s request but warned that military operations against Hezbollah are not over. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would maintain positions in a buffer zone extending into southern Lebanon.

In Beirut, celebratory gunfire marked the start of the truce, while displaced families began returning despite official warnings. A spokesperson for United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said no airstrikes had been observed since midnight, though it accused Israel of airspace violations and artillery fire.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll, with thousands reported killed across Iran and Lebanon, as well as casualties in Israel and Gulf states.

Global Push for Maritime Security

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the reopening of the strait but called for long-term guarantees of safe navigation.

The two leaders are advancing plans for a multinational maritime mission to secure commercial shipping routes in the Gulf. Military planners are expected to meet in London next week, with more than a dozen countries expressing interest in contributing assets.

Macron said the proposed mission would be neutral and focused on escorting vessels and clearing mines, while Starmer described it as a “strictly defensive” effort to reassure global trade.

Speaking after a gathering of some 50 countries and international organizations, Macron said “we all demand the full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties.”

The initiative reflects growing concern among countries not directly involved in the conflict but affected by its economic fallout. Oil prices surged after Iran effectively shut the strait earlier this year, highlighting the vulnerability of global energy supply chains.

European officials say the mission could include intelligence-sharing, mine-clearing operations and limited naval escorts. However, analysts caution that securing the strait would require significant resources and coordination.

Trump also appeared dismissive of European offers to support maritime security efforts, taking aim at NATO rather than the proposed Franco-British-led coalition.

“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I told them to stay away, unless they just want to load up their ships with oil,” he wrote on social media, adding: “They were useless when needed, a paper tiger!”

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