Trump announces lifting of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz

Washington —
US President Donald Trump announced that the US restrictions on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz "will be lifted now," in a move that could ease tensions in one of the world's most important energy corridors.

Trump said the decision comes after developments in ongoing communications regarding Iran, without revealing full details about the nature of the understandings that allowed the lifting of the restrictions.

The Strait of Hormuz had recently witnessed a wide military and security escalation, with warnings of disruption to oil tanker movements and a rise in global energy prices.

The strait is a vital passage for oil and gas shipments from the Gulf to global markets, and any disruption in it quickly reflects on energy prices, inflation, and supply chains.

Lifting the restrictions would send a calming signal to the markets, but it does not necessarily mean the end of the crisis with Iran, especially with nuclear enrichment files, sanctions, and security guarantees remaining unresolved.

Regional and international capitals are awaiting whether the decision will pave the way for a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran, or if it is just a temporary step to reduce escalation and prevent the expansion of confrontation in the Gulf.