US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday that the maritime blockade imposed on Iranian coastal zones and ports has been officially dismantled. Acting on direct orders from the President, American forces have ceased all operations aimed at restricting commercial shipping to and from Iran within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. According to a statement released on social media platform X, US warships will nevertheless maintain their deployment in the region. This continued military presence is designed to monitor compliance and ensure that the provisions of the newly established agreement with Tehran remain fully operational and strictly observed.
Speaking from the White House earlier on Thursday, US Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that both Washington and Tehran are currently honoring the terms of their preliminary peace framework. This mutual compliance has successfully restored vital transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Over the past 24 hours, a conflict-era record of 12.5 million barrels of crude oil moved safely through the waterway. Vance noted during the press briefing that Iranian forces refrained from targeting commercial vessels for a second consecutive night, while CENTCOM permitted more than a dozen cargo ships to cross the former blockade lines without interference.
The US administration emphasized that external regional actors, specifically Israel, are also expected to defer to the terms of the armistice. Addressing recent Israeli military strikes inside Lebanon, the Vice President urged comprehensive restraint from all combatants. He underscored that while Hezbollah must halt its missile and drone incursions into Israeli territory, Israel must likewise cease its aggressive operations in Lebanon. Restoring security to the Strait of Hormuz is critical for global energy markets; prior to Iran’s sweeping closure of the channel in early March, it served as the transit point for roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and natural gas exports destined for Asian and European economies.
