The United States has officially lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports, marking a major breakthrough in relations between Washington and Tehran after months of escalating tensions and maritime disruption in the Gulf region.
The policy shift follows the signing of an interim memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran earlier this week.
The agreement was formally submitted by the White House to the US Congress on June 18, outlining a temporary ceasefire framework and setting terms for restoring commercial maritime activity between the two countries.
Under the agreement, the United States has committed to ending naval enforcement operations that had blocked vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, including key facilities at Bandar Abbas and other strategic terminals.
In exchange, Iran has agreed to restore safe commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz for an initial 60-day period while negotiations continue toward a broader long-term settlement.
The blockade, which had been in place since April under US Central Command (CENTCOM), significantly disrupted shipping activity in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
According to reports, CENTCOM announced this Thursday that “all US blockade enforcement efforts have ceased,” confirming that military operations restricting Iranian-bound maritime traffic had officially ended.
The move is expected to have immediate consequences for global trade and energy markets. Dozens of Iranian cargo ships and oil tankers that had remained stranded in Southeast Asian and Gulf waters have already begun returning toward Iranian ports as trade operations gradually resume.
Maritime analysts say the reopening could help stabilize global oil supply chains after months of uncertainty surrounding one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, shipping conditions remain unstable. Normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has not yet fully resumed because approximately 80 naval mines laid during the recent conflict still need to be cleared.
Nearly 600 commercial vessels remain delayed in the region, and maritime experts warn that complete recovery may take several months.
Iranian officials have welcomed the agreement, describing it as a major economic victory after years of sanctions and recent military confrontation.
However, the agreement has already triggered criticism from several US lawmakers and regional allies, particularly Israel and Gulf states, who argue that easing pressure on Tehran may strengthen Iran without guaranteeing long-term concessions on its nuclear ambitions.
The agreement represents one of the most significant diplomatic reversals in US-Iran relations in recent years, with global markets closely watching whether the temporary deal develops into a broader and lasting peace agreement.