Trump thanks Iran for opening Strait of Hormuz as oil prices in freefall (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
The US president vowed, however, to continue to blockade Iranian ports
Iran has announced that it will allow passage for “all commercial vessels” through the strategic Strait of Hormuz following the declaration of a 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. However, US President Donald Trump has vowed to maintain his blockade of Iranian ports.
The announcement was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who said that the strait is “completely open” for the remaining period of the truce on the route approved by the Iranian authorities. The statement marks a significant shift from Iran’s previous stance, when Tehran prohibited passage for any US or Israeli ship.
The 10-day ceasefire entered into force on Friday following several weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which claimed more than 2,000 lives in Lebanon.
Here are the latest developments:
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, which is due to expire on Tuesday
• Trump thanked Tehran and said the strait is “open and ready for business,” but added that the US naval blockade on Iran “remains in full force” until a deal is “100% complete”
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned the US and Israel they will face a “regret-inducing” response if attacks continue
• A ten-day Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire came into force on Friday, with Trump insisting the group is part of the US-Iran ceasefire deal
• At least 2,196 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced in Lebanon amid Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders to expand a “security zone”
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.