President Donald Trump has claimed a ‘great victory’ after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route that had been closed amid tensions with the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi stated on social media that the passage for all commercial vessels through the strait was ‘completely open’, following a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate, initially misnaming the waterway as the ‘Strait of Iran’ before correcting himself. He declared the strait ‘completely open and ready for business’ but insisted that the US blockade against Tehran would persist until what he described as ‘our transaction’ was 100 per cent complete. He also claimed Iran had agreed to cease enriching uranium and that the US would take possession of its enriched uranium supply, which he called ‘Nuclear Dust’.
The president denied any link between the Iranian announcement and the Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire, despite the Iranian foreign minister’s comments linking the two. Trump also criticised news organisations such as the New York Times and CNN for what he saw as insufficient coverage, suggesting they should say ‘Job well done, Mr President’.
In response to the reopening, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a multinational mission to protect global shipping in the strait. Starmer described it as a ‘strictly peaceful and defensive’ effort to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance. He added that over a dozen countries had volunteered resources, and a military planning conference would be held in London next week.
Trump, however, lashed out at NATO, claiming he told the alliance to ‘stay away’ unless they wanted to load their ships with oil. He called NATO a ‘Paper Tiger’ and complained that it had not joined the US and Israel in attacking Iran earlier.
