U.S. Allows Ships Through Hormuz Under War-Ending Deal, Lifting Blockade

A ceasefire and memorandum of understanding ends active hostilities but exposes deeper conflicts over security, legitimacy and who controls access to global chokepoints.

The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that ends the four-month war, reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and requires the U.S. to lift its naval blockade while launching 60 days of nuclear talks and a temporary sanctions waiver allowing Iran to sell oil. Observers agree the immediate diplomatic breakthrough reduces acute market and shipping stress, but they disagree about the deal’s legitimacy, durability, and the proper tradeoffs between short-term de‑escalation and long-term security and normative constraints. Disagreement centers on whether reopening and sanctions waivers are responsible crisis-management to restore global commerce, or risky concessions that reward coercion and undermine institutional norms.

Key facts

• The United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports and allowed more than a dozen ships to proceed to Iranian ports under a deal announced by Vice President J. D. Vance; maritime trackers estimated that more than 12.5 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on a single night after the agreement.
• The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that declares the war to be over, commits to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, requires the U.S. to lift its naval blockade, launches 60 days of nuclear negotiations, and temporarily waives certain sanctions to permit Iran to sell oil during that window.
• The ceasefire and MOU came roughly four months after hostilities began on Feb. 28, 2026, with the agreement restoring much of the pre-war status quo in key areas, including language on Lebanon’s territorial integrity, and proposing a reconstruction and economic development plan estimated at around $300 billion.
• Stranded commercial ships began to transit the Strait of Hormuz again via northern and southern routes (through Iranian and Omani waters) while the central route—which had been heavily mined—remained under clearance; authorities warned full restoration of normal capacity would take weeks or months.
• Global reaction was cautiously optimistic: world leaders and shipping authorities welcomed the reopening but emphasized the need for guarantees that access would be secure and durable.
• Oil markets reacted quickly: crude prices fell from peaks above roughly $110–$120/barrel to the mid‑$80s as traders priced in returning supply, though analysts warned that inventory dynamics, physical flow constraints, and shipping/insurance frictions would delay full market relief.
• Energy experts said the reopening should ease short‑term supply shortages because millions of barrels stranded in the Gulf could reenter markets, but they cautioned that the pace of recovery depends on de‑mining, port repairs and insurance considerations.
• Analysts warned that full economic normalization—restored oil flows, lower insurance/shipping costs, and trade normalization—was likely to stretch into late 2026 or early 2027 because of lingering security risks and infrastructure damage.
• The conflict began with coordinated airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28, 2026 — operations identified in reporting as U.S. 'Epic Fury' and Israeli 'Roaring Lion' — strikes that targeted Iranian military infrastructure and leadership and were reported to have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• Iran responded to the strikes and subsequent measures by threatening to close or control access to the Strait of Hormuz, imposing transit restrictions and deploying mines and fast-attack craft; after failed ceasefire talks, the U.S. proclaimed a naval blockade on April 12, 2026, redirecting dozens of ships and disabling several non‑compliant vessels until the June agreement.