The United States military has formally lifted its naval blockade of Iran, marking one of the most significant steps yet in implementing the newly signed U.S.-Iran peace agreement.
In a statement posted on social media Thursday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that restrictions on Iranian shipping had been removed, allowing vessels to move more freely through regional waterways, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement came just hours after Vice President JD Vance disclosed that roughly 12.5 million barrels of oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. He also revealed that U.S. forces had already allowed more than a dozen vessels to transit through what had previously been a tightly enforced naval blockade.
The decision represents a major shift in U.S. military posture after months of conflict that disrupted global energy markets and raised fears of a wider regional war.
Despite ending the blockade, Washington is not withdrawing its military presence from the region.
CENTCOM stressed that U.S. naval forces would remain deployed near Iranian waters to monitor compliance with the agreement and ensure that all parties adhere to its terms.
“U.S. Navy ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and remain in full force and effect,” the command said.
The U.S. Navy currently maintains a substantial presence in the region, including more than a dozen warships and two aircraft carrier strike groups operating in waters surrounding Iran.
The reopening of maritime routes is already having an impact on global energy markets. Oil shipments have begun moving through the Strait of Hormuz again after weeks of disruption, easing concerns over supply shortages and helping stabilise international markets.
The lifting of the blockade forms part of the broader U.S.-Iran memorandum signed this week by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The agreement aims to end hostilities, reopen key shipping routes and launch negotiations toward a permanent settlement within the next 60 days.
While the move has been welcomed by energy markets and shipping operators, questions remain over whether the fragile peace can hold, particularly as fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
For now, however, one of the war’s most consequential restrictions has officially come to an end: Iranian shipping lanes are open once again, even as American warships remain on watch nearby.
