Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday. Tehran announced shortly before that the strategic strait would be opened to all vessels for the duration of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Trump also reported that Iran was removing mines in the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the US and that he had refused help from NATO. TASR informs about it.
“It will no longer be used as a weapon against the world!” he wrote, referring to the Trump Strait, in one of a series of ten posts he published over the course of about an hour on his Truth Social network.
Shortly before 3:00 p.m. CET, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arákčí announced that The Strait of Hormuz will be open to all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. According to him, this step is in line with the conclusion of the ceasefire in Lebanon, which should be in force for ten days, starting on Thursday.
In another post, the American president claimed that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which he called an agreement, had absolutely nothing to do with the ceasefire in Lebanon. “But we will make Lebanon great again,” he wrote, alluding to his informal MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.
Trump also declared that Israel will no longer bomb Lebanon, because the United States allegedly forbade it. “Enough is enough,” he emphasized, adding that the US will work with Lebanon independently and deal with the situation with the Hezbollah militant movement in an appropriate way.
Trump first thanked Iran for opening the strait, but shortly afterwards said that however, the US naval blockade of Iran remains in place until Washington’s deal with Tehran is finalized. He expects this process to take place very quickly, as most points have already been agreed upon, according to him.
The head of the White House also announced that Iran, with the help of the United States, has removed or is in the process of removing all sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. In this context, he also stated that after the situation in the strait calmed down, he “received a call from NATO” asking if the US needed any help, which he refused. “I TOLD THEM TO KEEP THEM OUT IF THEY JUST WANT TO FILL THE SHIPS WITH OIL,” he claimed and again described NATO as a paper tiger that “was useless when needed”.
Reactions from Europe to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz
Under international law, transit through waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free of chargethe High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said on the X network on Friday. According to her, the leaders expressed this at the Friday summit about this strategic strait, reports TASR.
“Any system to charge for passage would set a dangerous precedent for global sea lanes. Iran must drop all plans to impose transit fees,” wrote Kallas. According to the head of EU diplomacy, Europe will play its role in restoring the free flow of energy and trade as soon as the ceasefire begins to be observed.
The Aspides Union Naval Mission is already operating in the Red Sea and can be rapidly strengthened to protect shipping throughout the region. “That could be the fastest way to provide support.” added.
French President Emmanuel Macron at the press conference after the summit he stated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had very serious consequences for the entire planet and the global economy. He welcomed the latest announcements, including the ceasefire between Iran and the US, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “Diplomacy moves us forward,” he stated.
Macron presided over Friday’s virtual meeting of representatives of some 40 countries, with some leaders attending in person. This group of countries, according to the president, demands “the immediate full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties,” or the restoration of the conditions of free passage that existed before the war in the Middle East. Countries also reject attempts to “privatize this strait” and the toll system.
According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the leaders welcomed the reopening of the strategic strait. However, according to him, it must be a long-term and functional solution. Starmer called for shipping to resume as soon as conditions allow to ease the economic shock. Britain and France will lead an international mission to protect freedom of navigation “as soon as conditions permit, exclusively peaceful and defensive”.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claims that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a fundamental principle of international law. The cease-fires in Lebanon and Iran are to “be an integral part of the package of a serious negotiation process to resolve the crisis in the Middle East.” According to her, it is also essential that Iran abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The mission announced by Starmer will target ships currently in the strait area to ensure they are free of mines and provide reassurance to the maritime shipping industry, according to Meloni. It described the mission as “purely defensive” and Italy would provide “a certain number of naval units”.
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, it is in the “immediate interest” of the parties to increase efforts towards peace. Germany supports efforts to reach a “quick diplomatic deal” between the US and Iran, and Merz also highlighted the “historic opportunity” for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and Israel to work towards a lasting peace.
According to the chancellor, Germany is willing to contribute to the aforementioned mission to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, including the possible participation of its armed forces and activities such as demining. He added that such a plan requires the approval of the German parliament and the UN. According to him, the participation of the USA would be “desirable”.
The prime minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert, also participated in the summit via video conference Fico, who stated that he offered Slovakia’s capacities in demining the coast of the Strait of Hormuz, if necessary, as well as experience related to water management – all this after the end of the military conflict in this region.
