Iran’s reaction expected as Trump says blockade on ships, ports to remain despite Strait of Hormuz reopening 

Iran had earlier on Friday announced that it reopened the Strait of Hormuz to full commercial vessels because the very reason it shut it down for the second time after the Islamabad facilitated ceasefiire, that is Israel violation of the agreement saying it did not include Lebanon, has been removed.

Iran said Friday April 17, 2026 that it had fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, but US President Donald Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the crucial waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil is shipped was now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.

Trump initially celebrated, posting on social media that Iran announced the strait “is fully open and ready for full passage.” But minutes later, he issued another post saying the US Navy’s blockade would continue “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”

Iran had earlier on Friday announced that it reopened the Strait of Hormuz to full commercial vessels because the very reason it shut it down for the second time after the Islamabad facilitated ceasefiire, that is Israel violation of the agreement saying it did not include Lebanon, has been removed as Trump conceded to Tehran’s demand banning Israel from bombing Lebanon.

Trump imposed the blockade earlier this week after Iran restricted traffic through the strait due to fighting in Lebanon, which Iran claimed to be a breach of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire reached between the US, Israel and Iran.

At the time Trump said the blockade would enforce an “all or none” policy in hopes of pressuring Iran to reopen the strait.

Trump’s decision to continue the blockade despite Iran’s announcement appeared aimed at sustaining pressure on Tehran as the fate of the two-week ceasefire reached last week remains uncertain. Direct talks between the US and Iran last weekend were inconclusive, as the two nations differed over Iran’s nuclear program and other sticking points.

Oil prices fell on hopes of a deal. The head of the International Energy Agency had warned that energy shocks could get worse if the strait did not reopen. Iran closed the crucial waterway shortly after the war began.

Trump also denied Friday that any money would be involved in a deal with Iran over its nuclear program, after an Axios report that Washington was considering a $20 billion cash-for-uranium exchange.

Trump told Reuters on Friday that the US will work with Iran to recover its ​enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States.

“We’re going to get it together. We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery… We’ll bring it back to the United States,” Trump said during a phone interview.

He referred to “nuclear dust” and ‌added that ‌it would be retrieved “very soon.”

Trump’s mention ​of “nuclear ‌dust” ⁠is a ​reference ⁠to what he believes remains after the United States and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear installations in June last year.

Iran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. The issue of Iran’s nuclear program has been one of the thorniest issues in ⁠US-Iran negotiations.

Trump has said a primary ‌reason for the war was ‌to prevent Iran from getting a ​nuclear weapon. Iran says ‌its enrichment of uranium – a process that produces fuel for ‌power plants and nuclear warheads depending on its duration – is strictly for peaceful civilian use.

Trump, clearly excited at the prospect of a deal to end the war, said the US will ‌maintain its naval blockade against Iran until an agreement is finalized.

“I think the deal will ⁠go ⁠very quickly. We’re getting along very well with Iran,” he said.

Trump said more talks will be needed to reach a deal and that these would take place “probably over the weekend.” He added that he “might” go to Islamabad once a deal is made.

“I haven’t made that determination,” he said.

Trump also said the United States was working with Iran to remove mines from the strait.

Trump said on Friday ​that the United States has banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, using an atypically harsher tone than usual with the longtime US ally Israel.

“Israel ‌will not ‌be bombing ​Lebanon ‌any ⁠longer. ​They are PROHIBITED ⁠from doing so by the USA. Enough is enough!!!” Trump said in a social media post.

Trump also said any deal ⁠the United States reaches ‌with ‌Iran “is in no ​way subject ‌to Lebanon” but the ‌US will “deal with” the militant Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner.

Trump’s posts came after Araghchi said that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is “declared completely open” for the ​remaining period of ​the ceasefire.

Pakistan’s army chief met Thursday with Iran’s parliament speaker as part of efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused almost seven weeks of war between Israel, the US and Iran.

Even as the US blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats strained the ceasefire, regional officials reported progress, telling AP the United States and Iran had an “in-principle agreement” to extend it to allow for more diplomacy. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.

Mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.

Trump suggested the ceasefire could be extended.

“If we’re close to a deal, would I extend?” Trump said in an exchange with reporters. “Yeah, I would do that.”