Trump Says US Naval Blockade of Iran 'Will Now Be Lifted' — But Navy Warnings to Ships Persist

President Trump announced on Truth Social late Friday that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports 'will now be lifted' as part of the proposed 60-day memorandum of understanding with Tehran, with the news breaking overnight into Saturday across Gulf markets. Trump conditioned the move on Iran agreeing never to obtain a nuclear weapon, the Strait of Hormuz opening 'immediately' without tolls and with unrestricted two-way shipping, and remaining mines being removed or destroyed.

He said Iran's enriched nuclear material 'would be recovered by the United States, in coordination with the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and destroyed.' A roughly two-hour Situation Room meeting convened for a 'final determination' on the MOU ended without a decision. The framework would grant Iran sanctions waivers to sell oil and feed into the eventual release of roughly $24 billion in frozen assets, contingent on compliance.

Yet by Saturday, Iran International reported — citing mariners quoted by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim agency — that CENTCOM warnings to vessels about stopping Iranian ships continued despite the lift announcement, underscoring confusion over the blockade's actual status. Brent closed Friday near $92.05 after May's worst monthly decline since March 2020, exceeding 19%.