The latest developments in the Middle East war:
President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a peace deal with Tehran.
“The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” Trump said on his Truth Social network, adding that “this process should go very quickly.”
Oil prices plunged after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the vital Strait of Hormuz was “completely open” for commercial tankers and cargo ships during the US-Iran ceasefire.
International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged 10 percent to $89.11 a barrel, after earlier falling five percent on US-Iran peace deal hopes. The main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, shed 11 percent to $84.11 a barrel.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi the Strait of Hormuz will remain “completely open” as long as a ceasefire in the Middle East lasts.
“The passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” Araghchi said on X.
Trump welcomed Iran’s announcement, saying “THANK YOU!” and adding that Tehran said the narrow waterway was “FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE.”
Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since a US blockade came into force, the tracking firm Kpler told AFP.
The Deep Sea, Sonia I and Diona, all under US sanctions, passed the strait on Wednesday after leaving Iran’s Kharg Island, having loaded on April 2, 8 and 9 respectively, according to the maritime data company.
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of allies in Paris to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends.
Moscow backed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, and said it hoped the pause in fighting could pave the way for a longer-term agreement.
“We certainly welcome the decision on a truce and hope that in these few days it will indeed be possible to reach agreements that will prevent a repeat of the military clashes,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, in response to a question by AFP.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said direct negotiations with Israel were “crucial... and a ceasefire is the gateway to proceeding with negotiations”.
AFP images showed packed cars heading southwards along Lebanon’s coastal highway before dawn, and crossing at sunrise what was left of a bridge bombed by Israel during the wae agreed between neighbouring states Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT Thursday). Israel has been fighting Hezbollah since the militant group launched rocket attacks in support of Iran last month.
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