FILE- Iranian soldiers take part in the National Persian Gulf Day in the Strait of Hormuz. AFP
"The passage of military vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains prohibited," a senior military official told state television, adding that civilian vessels would have to transit the waterway through designated routes and with permission of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy.
Earlier today, Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is open to free shipping for the remaining period of the ceasefire with the US, via a designated route and apriori IRGC permissions.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Araqchi said in a post on his X account on Friday, April 17.
Meanwhile, a high-level Iranian military official told Iranian State TV that "ships can transit through the Strait of Hormuz via a designated route and after securing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard."
The Iranian announcement comes as a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by President Trump, took effect earlier on Friday.
Iran’s decision to explicitly guarantee safe passage during the ceasefire period appears aimed at reassuring international markets and signalling that it does not intend to escalate the conflict while diplomatic efforts are underway to end the war.
In the past 48 hours, the Pakistani military chief has held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran and has headed to Washington to meet with US officials to restart direct negotiations between the two sides.
On 8 April, the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire in the war after intense mediation by Pakistan and other regional powers, including Egypt and Turkey.
On Tuesday, Trump told the New York Post that a second round of talks could take place in Pakistan “over the next two days.”
US naval forces began blockading Iranian ports at 1400 GMT on Monday after peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement the previous day.
On the other side, Iran has blocked transit through the Strait of Hormuz to all ships affiliated with countries that support the US-Israel war on the country since 28 February.
The Strait's closure has sent oil and fertilizer prices skyrocketing, triggering inflationary pressures globally.
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