US President Donald Trump said “ships are starting to move” through the Strait of Hormuz.
Monday’s statement came after both the United States and Iran announced plans on Friday to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the U.S.-Israel war.
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No official text of the deal has been released, but both sides said the original deal would have opened the Strait of Hormuz, lifted the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and halted fighting on all fronts.
Deeper issues such as the future of Iran’s nuclear program, support for regional proxies, unfreezing Iranian assets and lifting sanctions were expected to be addressed during the 60-day negotiation period.
“Ships loaded with oil are beginning to move out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.
“They are proceeding along a southern ‘highway’ that is completely safe, secure and pristine,” Trump added, referring to the strait route that crosses Oman’s territorial waters.
This route is a concern because of mines.
“There are other travel areas!!!” Trump said.
Meanwhile, a US military advisory released on Monday said the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until the signing ceremony scheduled for Friday, according to Reuters.
“The military blockade of Iranian ports remains effectively restricting all movement in and out of these ports,” the advisory said.
“Do not attempt to cross until you are given clear instructions.”
Long-term return to normal operations
International oil markets rallied on positive signals towards a deal, but it is expected to take months to return to normal operations once the strait is fully reopened.
On Monday, shipping and maritime security forces told Reuters the mine-sweeping operation could last 40 to 50 days, until a number of insurance and shipping companies gain enough confidence to allow passage through the main waterway.
However, some companies have indicated they will start the transition sooner.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced that about 500 ships were waiting to pass through the strait, with about 20,000 crew members stranded.
President Trump said he would discuss demining efforts at the Group of Seven (G7) summit that begins in France on Monday.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recorded 46 attacks by the United States and Iran on international shipping companies during the conflict.
unanswered questions
Official details of the plan to open the strait have not been made public, nor have more thorny questions about its future operation.
The waterway had been open before the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on February 28th.
Experts have warned that the conflict has given Iran greater leverage over the strait, effectively allowing it to shut down shipping lanes and impose tolls.
On Monday, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told CNBC he expected the strait to remain “free and open for the long term.” He added that the issue would be discussed in “technical negotiations”.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai suggested on Monday that a “fee” would be imposed.
“Our goal is to open a path of safe passage through this waterway,” he said. “We need some time to discuss this important issue with the other side.”
In a separate interview with ABC News, Vance said the memorandum of understanding had already been signed “digitally” on Sunday, indicating that the unannounced terms were unlikely to change by Friday.
