Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced in a statement published via the «X» platform that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Araghchi explained that the passage of ships will be via the «coordinated route» previously determined by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Affairs Organization, as part of arrangements aimed at ensuring the safety of navigation during this sensitive period.

Alternative routes and navigational warnings

Coinciding with the start of the ceasefire, which ends on April 21, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced alternative shipping routes for crossing the strait, warning of the possibility of anti-ship mines in the main shipping lane.

This comes as several oil tankers wait outside the strait in preparation for being allowed to pass through under the new arrangements.

In a statement accompanied by an explanatory map, the Revolutionary Guard indicated that the security conditions that prevailed in the Gulf and the Strait during the period from March 9, 2025 to April 8, 2026, may have created navigational risks, calling on ships to strictly adhere to safety procedures and coordinate directly with its naval forces.

Details of proposed routes

The statement identified two alternative routes for navigation:

The first route is for ships coming from the Gulf of Oman towards the Arabian Gulf, and it passes north of Larak Island along the Iranian coast.

The second route is used for ships departing from the Arabian Gulf towards the Gulf of Oman, and it passes south of Lark Island.

The Revolutionary Guard confirmed that the use of these two routes aims to ensure "safe passage" for commercial ships away from potential dangers.

US welcomes Iranian move

For his part, US President Donald Trump welcomed the Iranian announcement, considering the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz an important step in the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war. He wrote on the Truth Social platform that Iran's announcement of the complete reopening of the Strait was "ready for full passage," thanking Tehran for this step.