Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz as U.S. says blockade on Iranian ships and ports stays in force

Iran said on April 17 that the Strait of Hormuz was fully reopened to commercial vessels, marking a partial de-escalation in the maritime standoff that had centered on U.S. pressure against Iranian shipping.

AP reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X saying the waterway was open. In the same reporting, Trump said the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships and ports would remain in force until a deal is reached.

The conflicting claims came after U.S. Central Command said on April 12 that it would begin a blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET. CENTCOM also said the action would not impede vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

AP said some vessels had continued transiting the strait even during the blockade period, and other coverage noted that shipping had already been affected. The latest statements leave the practical scope of the restrictions unclear, even as both sides now describe the strait itself as open.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive shipping routes, and any uncertainty over access can affect regional trade and energy markets. The immediate question now is whether traffic normalizes quickly or whether the dispute over Iranian ports and linked vessels continues to disrupt shipping beyond the narrow waterway itself.