Within a 24-hour period, both the United States and Iran issued a series of major and often contradictory statements concerning the Hormuz Strait. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Minutes later, Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, thanking Iran but confirming that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue until all transactions with Iran were fully completed.

Following a virtual meeting with about 40 countries, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would lead an international mission to safeguard freedom of navigation once conditions allowed. Hours later, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claims as false and warned that the strait would not remain open if the blockade persisted.

By Saturday, maritime tracking data showed some ships passing through the strait, but Iran’s military later announced it was reasserting control, citing US noncompliance. Shortly afterward, several vessels reportedly reversed course, signaling renewed uncertainty over the waterway’s status.