Trump hails Hormuz reopening, vows continued US naval blockade on Iran

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social Friday afternoon to announce a major breakthrough in the West Asian energy crisis, declaring the Strait of Hormuz “completely open and ready for business.”

The news sent global oil prices into a tailspin, with Brent Crude dropping nearly 10% in minutes as the specter of a total energy strangulation receded.

The announcement follows a morning statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who confirmed that the strategic waterway would be open to all commercial vessels for the remainder of a two-week ceasefire.

The move appears to be a direct result of the U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran had set as a precondition for easing its maritime grip.

Despite the diplomatic thaw, Trump made it clear that Washington is not finished with its “maximum pressure” campaign.

In a follow-up post, the President clarified that while global trade can resume, Iran’s own economy remains under lock and key.

“THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE,” Trump wrote.

“THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED.”

The “naval blockade” refers to the U.S. Navy’s interdiction of ships entering or departing Iranian ports, a policy enacted earlier this month after initial peace talks in Islamabad hit an impasse.

The impact on the ground and in the markets was instantaneous: Brent Crude fell to approximately $90 per barrel, providing much-needed relief to a global economy that has been reeling from 2026’s skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer costs.

Negotiators including Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff are reportedly preparing to return to Islamabad to finalize what Trump calls the “transaction,” a 15-point proposal that includes the permanent dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

While the Strait is open, the U.S. Fifth Fleet remains on high alert. Sources indicate the “coordinated routes” for commercial shipping are being monitored closely to prevent any “bad actors” from disrupting the flow of oil.

Earlier in the day, the President raised eyebrows by referring to the waterway as the “Strait of Iran” in a “Thank You” post to Tehran. While critics were quick to point out the geographical slip, the White House downplayed the terminology, focusing instead on the “historic” nature of the reopening.