Iranian Envoy Announces Free Passage through Strait of Hormuz for 60 Days

GENEVA, June 23 (Xinhua) – Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said on June 23 that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully opened to merchant ships at no charge. The announcement marks a major breakthrough in the shipping crisis that has plagued the strategic waterway for nearly four months since the end of February.

Bahreini made the remarks while answering questions from the Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents on the status of talks between Iran and the United States. He declared that the Strait of Hormuz is now open for a period of 60 days, during which no fees will be levied. He added that the two sides have agreed to establish a communication mechanism to monitor and resolve any issues that may arise. After 60 days, the future of the strait’s access will depend on the outcome of negotiations between Iran and the US.

Bahreini revealed that Iranian and American negotiators had concluded the first round of talks on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed last week, held on June 22 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. According to the memorandum, the US is to unfreeze Iranian assets, and Iran has full rights to use its overseas frozen assets. “Iran is the sole country entitled to decide how to dispose of these assets, and no other country or entity has the right to interfere,” Bahreini stressed.

In response to US claims that Iran had agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country, Bahreini categorically denied this. “There is currently no such decision, and not even such discussions have taken place,” he said. “Therefore, any news about Iran possibly allowing inspectors in is incorrect.” He noted that discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities would take place at a later stage.

The Strait’s Tortuous Journey from Blockade to Opening

The Strait of Hormuz, the only maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, is one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, handling about one-third of global seaborne oil trade. On February 28, after the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, Tehran announced a blockade of the strait. Subsequently, the US imposed a maritime embargo on ships travelling to and from Iran starting April 13. The disruption of the strait caused massive shocks to global energy markets and international shipping.

In mid-June, the US and Iran reached a framework agreement to restore shipping through the strait. On June 14 (US Eastern Time), US President Donald Trump announced on social media that the US‑Iran deal was “now complete.” Early on June 15 local time, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretariat formally announced that the two countries had finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding on “ending the war negotiations.”

On the night of June 17, the two sides signed the memorandum remotely, which not only ended the military conflict that had begun on February 28 but also set a specific timetable for the US to lift its maritime blockade and for Iran to resume shipping through the strait. On June 18, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement saying that no fees would be charged for 60 days for commercial vessels applying to transit the strait. According to Article 5 of the memorandum, vessels must submit applications to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, and during this 60‑day period applicants will not have to pay any fees, as the Iranian government will cover the costs.

Reactions and Next Steps

The United States welcomed the reopening. US Vice President Vance, after meeting with the Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock, said the two sides had found a way to ensure the strait remains open. According to Vance, about 15 million barrels of oil had already been transported through the waterway. He believed oil prices were falling and would continue to do so.

President Trump said on social media on June 20 that no tolls would be charged even after the 60‑day period ends, but warned that if a final agreement is not reached, the US might impose transit fees to compensate for the cost of “guarding” the Middle East. The US Central Command subsequently announced that, following the president’s directive, it had lifted restrictions on maritime transport to and from Iranian ports.

Iran and Oman, the two littoral states of the strait, issued a joint statement on June 22 reaffirming their commitment to international law and to guaranteeing free and safe passage through the strait. The Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly and chief nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, made clear that the management framework of the strait would no longer return to the pre‑conflict status quo, and that Iran would assume full control of the strait while adhering to international rules. Ghalibaf revealed that the negotiating parties had agreed to set up a coordination centre and a hotline to resolve any problems within 30 days more quickly.

Global Attention and Outlook

Iran’s armed forces had briefly closed the strait again on June 20, citing US failure to restrain Israel and alleged violations of the memorandum. The current reopening and fee waiver are seen as a significant sign of US‑Iran rapprochement. The two sides began the first post‑memorandum talks in Bürgenstock on June 21. According to a joint statement issued by Qatar and Pakistan, the first round made “encouraging progress,” and the parties agreed to establish a high‑level committee for political oversight and a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days.

Analysts point out that the reopening of the strait is positive for stabilising global energy markets, but the management regime after 60 days remains uncertain and depends on the course of follow‑up US‑Iran talks. Bahreini explicitly stated that the extension of the opening will be determined by the negotiations, leaving room for future developments.