U.S. Lifts Naval Blockade in Strait of Hormuz

Overview

• CENTCOM announced Thursday that the U.S. has ended its naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and is allowing maritime traffic to enter and exit Iranian ports.
• U.S. naval vessels will stay in the area to monitor compliance with a memorandum of understanding that establishes a 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
• Both countries signed the memorandum on Wednesday and a planned in-person signing by Vice President J.D. Vance and Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was reported as scheduled in Switzerland.
• The blockade was first imposed on April 13 after rising hostilities, and enforcement actions during the blockade included ship seizures, use of force against vessels, and civilian casualties that disrupted global shipping and left many ships stranded.
• The agreement is a time-limited de-escalation that restores sea lanes through a critical oil and gas chokepoint but leaves sanctions, nuclear issues, and broader regional security concerns unresolved, so further negotiations and close monitoring are likely next steps.