The United States has lifted its weeks-long naval blockade of Iranian ports following the framework agreement reached with Tehran, the US military said on Thursday.
Ships travelling to or from Iran will no longer be prevented from transiting the region on the orders of President Donald Trump, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said in a post on X.
"All US military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased," the command said.
The move follows the framework agreement concluded between the sides, which includes provisions guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically important waterway between Iran and Oman that is vital for global trade.
Iran has meanwhile introduced a requirement for commercial vessels seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to submit an application in advance, according to the Tehran Times newspaper on Thursday, citing the secretariat of the country's Supreme National Security Council.
The authority responsible for overseeing traffic through the strategic waterway has been instructed to process all applications quickly and on a priority basis in line with the objectives of the bilateral framework agreement with the US, the report said.
No transit fees will be charged during the 60-day negotiation period provided for under the agreement, according to the council.
At the same time, CENTCOM stressed that US forces would remain deployed in the region.
The continued presence is intended to ensure that "all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect."
Less than a week ago, CENTCOM said that 139 vessels had been diverted since the blockade began on April 13.
A further nine ships had refused to comply and were therefore rendered "inoperable," according to the command.
The blockade was focused primarily on the area around the Strait of Hormuz, although the US military also took action against individual oil tankers operating far from the waterway.
