Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global trade, will be "completely open" for the duration of the cease-fire signed between Lebanon and Israel.

US President Donald Trump posted a thank-you message shortly after the Iranian announcement but said the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until Washington and Tehran reach a deal to end the war.

"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 Organization of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," he wrote in a social media post on April 17.

Trump then posted on his Truth Social platform: "IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!"

In a subsequent post, he said the US blockade would "remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete." He said he expects a resolution will come "very quickly," asserting that "most of the points are already negotiated."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transits, has been effectively closed amid US-Israeli air attacks on Iran that started on February 28 and Tehran's retaliatory strikes at targets around the Middle East, including ships in the Persian Gulf.

The United States imposed the blockade, aimed at preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, on April 13.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=449912