Iran to Reopen Hormuz 30 Days After Peace Deal: Nikkei Asia

Darwin, 27 May : Iran will remove its blockade from the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz 30 days after signing a final peace agreement with the United States, Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, citing multiple diplomatic sources in the Middle East, Iran’s defense forces are expected to begin clearing naval mines from the waterway one month after a peace treaty is finalized with Washington.

The move would restore safe passage for international commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important trade routes.

Diplomatic sources also said the United States and Iran have agreed to extend their ceasefire by an additional 60 days to allow more time for negotiations over the terms of a comprehensive peace agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz, a 167-kilometer-long waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is considered one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors.

Roughly one-fifth of global energy supplies pass through the strait, making its security essential for international markets.

Iran imposed the blockade after war broke out with the United States and Israel on February 28. To reinforce the closure, the elite branch of Iran’s military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reportedly deployed naval mines across multiple sections of the strait. The Pentagon estimated that the IRGC had planted at least a dozen mines in the area.

The blockade disrupted energy shipments worldwide, contributing to rising prices of oil, liquefied natural gas, and other fuel products in multiple countries.

Following 40 days of fighting, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran on April 8. However, despite the truce, Tehran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, prompting Washington to impose retaliatory restrictions on Iranian maritime ports.

The U.S. Navy had attempted to remove the mines from the waterway but reportedly failed, as the IRGC kept the exact locations of the explosives confidential.

Source: Reuters / Nikkei Asia