Topline
President Donald Trump said Monday the Strait of Hormuz is partially open and “ships are starting to go out now,” though there’s some confusion about when a free flow of traffic will resume and whether Iran will charge ships for passing—something Iran only began after the U.S. launched its attack.
President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with France’s President on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Evian, central-eastern France on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Trump made the comments while meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron after electronically signing a deal with Iran to end the war on Sunday, adding “they’re hunting for a couple of mines” that were placed in the strait during the conflict and it would fully reopen by Friday.
Trump said earlier Monday on Truth Social ships “are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz,” insisting there were several safe exit routes.
It’s unclear whether Iran could still find a way to charge ships for passing after implementing tolls during its blockade of the strait since the start of the conflict in February: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Monday tolls would be removed, but left open the possibility of charging fees “in exchange for the services that are provided.”
The timing of the complete reopening was also somewhat unclear—an unnamed senior U.S. official told reporters traffic would not return to normal for two weeks, and another U.S. official said the strait would fully reopen Friday, according to The New York Times.
Some shipping company executives said they needed more assurances before resuming operations in the strait and removing ships that have been stranded since the start of the war, the Times reported.
Jakob P. Larson, chief security officer at Bimco, the world’s largest shipping association said a neutral intermediary, such as the International Maritime Organization, should identify safe routes: “if they all go in one big pile, there’s a really big risk of navigational incidents, collisions, things like that,” he told The Times.
What To Watch For
Iranian and U.S. officials are expected to formalize the agreement at a signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday. Vice President JD Vance, who is leading negotiations for the U.S. side, is leading the U.S. delegation who will attend the signing.
Tangent
Trump bashed the nuclear deal with Iran reached during the Obama administration on Monday amid criticism that Trump’s deal is largely similar. He said the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was “a horrible deal for the United States . . . where billions of dollars was given to Iran.” Trump said “they tried to bribe them to make a deal.” It’s unclear how economic relief for Iran will be incorporated into the Trump administration’s agreement, but both sides have acknowledged it would be an aspect. U.S. officials told reporters Monday sanctions relief would be gradual and based on progress Iran has made toward adhering to its end of the deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said Monday that “sanctions relief will be discussed” in the next phase of the agreement, state media reported. More than $20 billion in Iranian assets are frozen in U.S. bank accounts.
Key Background
Iran and the U.S. reached the agreement after several bouts of fighting last week, though the text of the deal has yet to be made public and there appear to be several outstanding sticking points, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear aspirations would reportedly be negotiated over the next 60 days after the agreement is formally signed Friday. Trump has maintained throughout the war his entire reasoning for attacking Iran was to stop it from developing a nuclear weapon. Trump has also said repeatedly throughout the negotiations that Iran has agreed to give up its enriched uranium, though Iranian officials have not corroborated his claim. Trump claimed Monday while meeting with Macron the Iranians “fully agree” they won’t ever develop a nuclear weapon and will allow “strong policing powers.” Araghchi reportedly said Monday “issues related to the nuclear program” along with sanctions relief, will be discussed in the next phase of the negotiations.
further reading
Trump Might Lift Sanctions On Iran—After Blasting Obama For Doing It (Forbes)
Trump And Vance Angrily Deny Peace Deal Favors Iran (Forbes)
U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Expected To Be Signed Sunday, Trump Says (Forbes)