Iran has confirmed that it has fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, despite US President Donald Trump's claims that the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports 'will remain in full force' until Tehran reaches a deal with the US.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the strait, through which about 20% of the world's oil is shipped, is now fully open to commercial vessels. Multiple ships have been spotted crossing the strait, including at least four vessels originating from Iranian ports that are under US sanctions.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported partial compliance with the blockade, noting that several vessels reversed course. However, tracking data analyzed by BBC Verify indicates that at least four vessels have crossed the US-enforced blockade line in the Gulf of Oman.
The news has led to a sharp rally in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing 2.0% and the S&P 500 rising 1.3%.
