Key facts
- The U.S. military lifted its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
- The blockade had been in place since mid-April, barring maritime traffic from Iranian ports.
- The U.S. military ceased all blockade enforcement efforts.
- U.S. Navy ships and military assets will remain in the area to ensure MOU enforcement.
- Iran had previously choked off the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil supply.
- The U.S. instituted the blockade on April 13 to cut off Iran's oil exports.
The U.S. military has lifted its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran to end the conflict. The blockade, which had been in place since mid-April, barred maritime traffic from entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas.
U.S. forces have ceased all blockade enforcement efforts, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (Centcom). Navy ships and other military assets will remain in the area to ensure all aspects of the MOU, signed by President Trump in France on Wednesday, are enforced. Iran had effectively choked off the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil supply flows, earlier in the conflict, causing global price spikes.
The U.S. instituted the blockade on April 13 to cut off Iran's oil exports and exert further pressure. As of June, U.S. forces had redirected 142 commercial ships and disabled nine vessels that did not comply with warnings. The blockade is estimated to have cost Iran around $4.8 billion in oil revenue. Experts note that mines placed by Iran in the waterway may delay the return of normal maritime traffic.