UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz will remain “completely open” for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reports.
“This is a step in the right direction,” the UN chief said in a statement.
“The UN position remains clear: we need the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, respected by everyone,” Guterres said.
Guterres also expressed hope that the decision, combined with the ceasefire, would help build confidence between the parties and strengthen ongoing diplomatic efforts facilitated by Pakistan.
His spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Guterres remains “fully supportive” of the diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful path forward out of the current conflict in the Middle East.
READ: Iran announces Hormuz ‘completely open’ for commercial shipping after Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
Guterres’ remarks came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for all commercial vessels, linking it to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The decision was made “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon,” Araghchi said in a statement on the US social media platform X.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Trump said Friday that the waterway is now “completely open.”
He added that a US naval blockade targeting Iran will remain in place, applying only to Iranian ports until transactions with Tehran are “100% complete.”
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