Trump says ships ‘starting to move’ through Strait of Hormuz

United States President Donald Trump says “ships are starting to move” through the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement on Monday came after both the US and Iran announced plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the US-Israeli war with Iran on Friday.

While no official text of that agreement has been released, both sides have said the initial deal would see the Strait of Hormuz open, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports lifted and fighting halted on all fronts.

More entrenched issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, its support for proxies in the region, the unfreezing of Iranian assets and the lifting of sanctions were expected to be addressed during a 60-day negotiation period.

“Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.

“They are going along the Southern ‘Highway,’ which is totally safe, secure, and pristine,” Trump added, referring to a shipping route in the strait that traverses Oman’s territorial waters.

While international oil markets rebounded following the positive signals towards a deal, if the strait were to be fully reopened, it is expected to take months for operations to return to normal.

On Monday, shipping and maritime security forces told Reuters news agency that mine-sweeping operations could continue for 40 to 50 days before many insurance and shipping companies would be confident enough to permit passage through the arterial waterway.