Author: Parisa Hafezi, Steve Holland and Nayera Abdallah
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) – Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday following a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, raising optimism for peace talks, but Tehran warned it could close the vital waterway again if the U.S. navy continues its recent blockade of Iranian ports.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on social media that the strait, a tiny chokepoint for global energy trade, would be open to all commercial shipping for the remainder of a 10-day U.S.-brokered truce. The truce was reached between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. Israel invaded Lebanon after the militant group Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, joined the fight.
US President Donald Trump launched a war with Israel on February 28 against Iran, killing thousands and leading to the de facto closure of the strait. He told supporters at a rally in Arizona that Arachi’s announcement marked “a great and glorious day for the world.”
But subsequent statements and clarifications from both sides have left uncertainty about how quickly shipping can return to normal, and some ships could be observed trying unsuccessfully to cross the channel on Friday before returning.
Trump said the U.S. blockade of ships sailing to Iranian ports, announced last weekend after negotiations with Iran failed to reach an agreement, would last until “our deal with Iran is 100 percent complete.”
Iran responded strongly, with Iranian parliament speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Bakr Qalibaf saying in a social media post that the strait “will not remain open” if the U.S. continues to block it. Until recently, the strait carried about a fifth of the world’s oil trade. He also said Trump made multiple false claims about Friday’s peace talks.
Iran says all ships must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but that was not the case before the war. Warships and vessels with links to “hostile forces” such as the United States and Israel are still not allowed to pass, state television said, citing a statement from the Defense Ministry.
Ship traffic data showed that about 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers and oil tankers, passed through the Gulf heading to the Strait of Hormuz on Friday night, but most ended up returning, although the reasons were unclear. The group includes three container ships operated by France’s CMA CGM, which declined to comment.
This was the largest group of ships to attempt the crossing since the war began.
It’s unclear how the two sides will address Iran’s nuclear program, a key sticking point in peace talks so far as Iran defends its rights to what it calls a civilian nuclear energy program.
Trump told Reuters the United States would remove Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state television the material would not be transferred anywhere.
Separately, a senior Iranian official said that Iran hopes to reach a preliminary agreement in the next few days to extend the ceasefire agreement that is due to expire next week. The official said that could buy more time for negotiations to lift sanctions on Iran and secure compensation for war losses.
Oil prices plunge, stocks rise
Oil prices fell about 10%, and global stock markets rose on news that maritime traffic could once again flow through the strait. [O/R] [MKTS/GLOB]
Shipping lines cautiously welcomed Iran’s announcement but said they needed clarification, including information on mine risks, before ships could pass through Gulf entry points.
The U.S. Navy warned sailors that the mine threat in some waterways is not yet fully understood and said they should consider avoiding the area.
Britain said more than a dozen countries had said they were willing to join an international mission to protect shipping in the Channel if conditions allowed, following a video conference on Friday.
diplomatic progress
Trump told Reuters that more peace talks could take place this weekend. Some diplomats said that was unlikely to happen given the logistical constraints given that the talks were expected to be held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
A Pakistani source involved in the mediation effort said the upcoming meeting could lead to a preliminary memorandum of understanding, followed by a comprehensive peace agreement within 60 days.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the two sides had reached an agreement to unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets as part of the deal, but gave no timetable. “No money will be exchanged in any way, shape or form,” Trump, who has repeatedly called the peace deal a “deal” or “deal,” told a rally with supporters in Arizona late Friday.
According to people familiar with the matter, during talks over the weekend, the United States proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activities, while Iran proposed a three to five-year suspension.
Two Iranian sources said there were signs of a compromise that could see some stockpiles removed.
Trump told Reuters the United States might not act quickly. “We’re going to work with Iran at a relaxed pace and then start digging with big machinery,” he said in a phone interview. “We’re going to bring it back to the United States.”
He mentioned “nuclear fallout,” referring to the aftermath of the U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities last June.
Despite Trump’s optimism, Iranian sources told Reuters that “differences still need to be resolved” before a preliminary deal can be reached, while senior clerics struck a defiant tone during Friday prayers.
“Our people will not negotiate when they are humiliated,” said cleric Ahmed Khatami.
The U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to be largely holding on Friday, although the Lebanese army reported some violations by Israel. An Israeli drone strike killed one person in southern Lebanon, medics said.
The conflict reignited on March 2 when Hezbollah opened fire on Israel in support of Iran, leading to an Israeli offensive that authorities say has killed nearly 2,300 people.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andy Sullivan, Sharon Singleton, Ros Russell and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens, Nia Williams and Alistair Bell)
