Nathan Williams
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

At around 13:00 GMT (14:00 BST) Iran's foreign minister declared that the Strait of Hormuz was "open" to vessels while the Lebanon ceasefire was in place.

Donald Trump hailed the move in a serious of posts on his Truth Social platform, while also insisting that America's blockade of Iranian ports would stay until a full US-Iran deal was done.

The news has led to a drop in the price of oil. But the head of the International Maritime Organisation told the BBC the shipping industry should remain "cautious". There is also a major backlog of vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf.

While the US president has suggested the vital waterway is fully open, Iranian officials have since suggested there may be limitations, external on shipping going through the Strait.

Our security correspondent Frank Gardner points out that Iran is insisting that all vessels follow a "designated route". Maritime tracking services showed very few vessels actually transited through the strait on Friday.

Trump has also been sending very upbeat signals about the current state of US-Iran negotiations, tells BBC US partner CBS that Iran has "agreed to everything", including the removal of enriched uranium from the country. A senior Iranian official has this is not the case.

We are now pausing our live coverage, but you can continue to read more in our main story from today: Iran says Strait of Hormuz is 'open' but tracking shows few ships moving.

We have further articles on the Iran war, including one from diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams on how two ceasefires in the Middle East could boost US-Iran talks.

Image source, Reuters

Speaking at the Turning Point Action event in Arizona, US President Donald Trump is reiterating many of his key talking points from throughout the day on the subject of the conflict in the Middle East.

• He says Iran has announced the Strait of Hormuz is "fully open and ready for business", but the US naval blockade with remain "in full force" until the "transaction" is 100% complete
• Trump also repeated his claim that the US and Iran will jointly will jointly excavate enriched uranium, or "nuclear dust", and remove it from Iran - earlier today, a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry has said the enriched uranium is going nowhere
• He has spoken about Nato, leading to a wave of boos from the audience of young conservatives, for what the president says is the alliance's lack of support to open the Strait of Hormuz - the president says help was offered far too late, claiming that the US spends close to $1tn helping Nato
• The president heralded the "unprecedented" ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, and says it is the first time it has happened in 78 years
• Trump has also thanked Pakistan and its prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, for the "tremendous help" in working towards a deal with Iran

US President Donald Trump is speaking at a Turning Point Action event in Phoenix, Arizona.

He was introduced by Erika Kirk, the widow of the late Charlie Kirk, the conservative advocacy group's founder.

Trump spoke briefly about the conflict in the Middle East. We'll bring you the key points he makes relating to Iran.

Image source, Getty Images

Simi Jolaoso
Washington DC correspondent

We’ve heard a lot from President Trump today.

He has struck an upbeat tone on talks with Iran, claiming Tehran has agreed to hand over what he called its “nuclear dust” - meaning their enriched uranium.

Various media outlets have reported he told them the US would collect and transport the material to America, and insisted he has not agreed to release any of Iran’s frozen funds in return.

Those would mark major concessions from Iran, as they were all issues that proved sticking points in the first round of negotiations

Donald Trump’s optimism may be premature though. Iran’s foreign minister has rejected the idea that the country's enriched uranium would be transferred abroad.

So even though President Trump is projecting a diplomatic victory, there are still clear differences between the two sides.

The coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomacy can hold, or whether the conflict risks sliding back towards escalation.

President Trump has already warned that if no deal is reached, fighting could resume.

Image source, Getty Images

Moments ago, President Trump spoke to reporters as he made his way to an event in Phoenix, Arizona.

"Talks are going on, [they will] go on over the weekend," he says. "A lot of good things are happening and that includes Lebanon too."

He downplayed comments from an Iranian official that significant differences remain between Washington and Tehran.

"If there are, we'll have to straighten it out but I don't think there's too many significant differences," he says.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Today is not the first day that the topic of Iran’s enriched uranium has come up in remarks by Iranian and American officials.

Iran’s nuclear programme has been a point of debate for years. Iran has always insisted that its nuclear programme is peaceful, a claim rejected by both the US and Israel.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of mid-2025 Iran possessed more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade (90%).

Handing over Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium has been a key US demand in current and past negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The recent war started on 28 February, two days after a round of talks between the US and Iran. The 12-day war between Iran and Israel back in the summer of 2025 also happened while the US and Iran were engaged in talks. The US also got involved that time and hit three key Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran and the US were back at the negotiating table recently, but it's not clear yet if a deal will happen.

For Washington, the priority right now remains limiting Iran's nuclear programme to prevent the development of a weapon.

For Tehran, a deal could offer economic relief and security guarantees.

When it comes to rhetoric, Iran seems to be rejecting that they want to give up their enriched uranium.

But it is yet to be seen if Iran is actually willing to give up what it has spent years and resources on for a deal or not.

A cruise ship successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz today - the first passenger vessel to make it through since the war began - ship tracking service MarineTraffic says.

The Malta-flagged vessel, the Celestyal Discovery, had been stuck in Dubai for 47 days, after arriving there in early March, according to the maritime tracking service.

Sailing without any passengers on board, it is now heading toward Muscat, Oman with an estimated arrival of Saturday, MarineTraffic says.

The US Department of Treasury will place further sanctions on Iraqi militia commanders as part of "Operation Economic Fury".

“We will not allow Iraq’s terrorist militias, backed by Iran, to threaten American lives or interests,” says Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) says it has designated seven Iraqi militia commanders responsible for “planning, directing, and executing attacks against US personnel, facilities, and interests in Iraq".

The militia organisations include Kata’ib Hizballah, Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, Harakat Al-Nujaba, and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haqq.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Earlier today, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced that their countries will be leading a mission to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

They've just issued a statement confirming their mission and outlining its three main points.

1. "First, we called for the unconditional, unrestricted, and immediate re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade."
2. "Second, we confirmed our support for the vital work of the International Maritime Organisation to ensure the safety of seafarers and vessels. We will continue to work with the shipping industry to ensure that they can resume operations as soon as conditions permit, including through engagement with shipping operators, insurers, and industry bodies."
3. "Third, France and the United Kingdom confirmed that they are establishing an independent and strictly defensive multinational mission to protect merchant vessels, reassure commercial shipping operators, and conduct mine clearance operations as soon as conditions permit following a sustainable ceasefire agreement."

What is Iran's 'co-ordinated route' for vessels in the strait?published at 21:34 BST 17 April

21:34 BST 17 April

By Shayan Sardarizadeh

As we reported earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced in a post on X that the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire” with the US, which is due to end on 22 April.

Araghchi also said the passage of commercial vessels is allowed via the "co-ordinated route”, external previously announced by Iran.

He is likely referring to a map and two routes designated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and widely reported by Iranian media last week.

Vessels going towards the Gulf would have to take a route north of Iran’s Larak Island. Those moving towards the Gulf of Oman would go to the south of the island.

The map marked a region in the middle of the channel linking the Gulf and Gulf of Oman as a “dangerous area” to be avoided.

Iran said last week any vessels that did not follow the designated routes risked hitting naval mines or being attacked by the IRGC.

• While there was a flurry of shipping activity in the Gulf throughout Friday, maritime tracking services show very few vessels actually transited through the strait, with some appearing to turn back or stop

Dharshini David
Deputy economics editor

The Brent crude oil price has closed at $90 per barrel - down nearly 10%.

That response underscores how vital the Strait of Hormuz is to all our economic fortunes.

As energy costs had plateaued, even drifting slightly lower in recent days, the pressure at the petrol pump - and in the borrowing costs that dictate mortgage rates - had started to ease.

If the latest drop in energy prices is sustained, then there's likely to be more relief.

But we're a long way from business as usual. Crude oil remains far above the $70 or so seen ahead of the war.

This is potentially a limited reopening which will help only vessels stranded in the Strait – and it’s unclear how many will move. Shipping operators have told us they are cautious.

And the damage to infrastructure in the region means energy production, such as that of liquid gas in Qatar, could take years to fully recover.

But even with a swift resolution to the war, analysts warn that - as the impact of what happens in the last seven weeks continues to filter through – there will be a hit to prices and growth that could outlast hostilities.

Aside from his social media posts, US President Donald Trump has also given a series of interviews today. Here is a roundup of the main points he made to reporters:

• Trump told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that Iran has "agreed to everything", including the removal of nuclear materials from the country
• He told the AFP news agency there were "no sticking points" left in the peace negotiations with Iran and that an agreement in writing is "very close"
• Separately, he told Bloomberg that Tehran has agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely without receiving any frozen funds from the US in exchange. In an interview with NewsNation, Trump is reported to have said Iran has agreed to stop enriching uranium
• To Reuters, he said that Iran has agreed to allow the US to enter its territory to collect enriched uranium. "We're going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery," he says. "We'll bring it back to the United States"

• The president told Axios that negotiators might meet again this weekend to finalise a deal to end the war. The news outlet also reported, citing unnamed US officials, Iran is requesting the release of $20 billion of frozen funds in exchange for enriched uranium
• When asked about the Iranian request, a White House spokesperson told the BBC: "Only announcements from President Trump or the White House — not anonymous sources — should be taken as fact. Productive conversations with Iran continue, but we will not negotiate via the press.”
• Iran has yet to confirm any of the details of what Trump has told reporters. A senior Iranian official has told Reuters significant difference remain in their negotiations and a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said the enriched uranium was going nowhere

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Iran's enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere, says a senior official in Tehran.

Speaking to TV state media in Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei says that "the transfer of uranium to the US has not been presented as an option. Iran’s enriched uranium is as sacred to us as the soil of Iran and will under no circumstances be transferred anywhere".

It comes after Trump said earlier today that Iran has "agreed to everything", including the removal of enriched uranium from the country.

On negotiations, Baghaei says that "the lifting of sanctions is of great importance to us, compensation for the damages incurred is a particular priority for Iran".

The shipping industry still needs to know if it's safe for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation tells BBC World Business Report.

"I need further clarification for the shipping industry that there will be no risks for the ships to navigate and it will be in accordance with international law," Arsenio Dominguez says.

The IMO has information that some ships have started to sail, but still needs to verify that as "some ships turn off their identification systems in order not to be targeted", he says.

Dominguez adds that there's a major backlog of around 1,600 trapped in the Persian Gulf, which will take time to clear.

Image source, Reuters

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has "agreed to everything", including the removal of enriched uranium from the country.

Speaking by phone to CBS, the BBC's US partner, Trump says that the removal of the material would not involve American ground troops, while also saying that "we'll be getting it together [with the Iranians]".

"We'll go down and get it with them, and then we'll take it," he says. "We'll have an agreement and there's no need for fighting when there's an agreement."

The uranium would then be brought to the United States, he says.

When the US and Iran called a temporary ceasefire last week, enriched uranium emerged as a point of contention, with Iran's National Security Council (SNSC) saying that the truce outlined an "acceptance of [uranium] enrichment", despite US claims to the contrary.

• What is enriched uranium? It's uranium where a specific isotope has been concentrated - when it's enriched to 90%, it can be used to make nuclear-grade weapons. According to senior US officials, at the start of the war Iran possessed approximately 440kg of uranium enriched to 60%.

Cormac McGarry, director for maritime security at the consultancy firm Control Risks, tells the BBC's 5 Live Drive that he is “no more optimistic than he was yesterday,” despite Iran saying the strait is “completely open”.

The firm is still advising their clients of a “very high chance they’ll be attacked” if they sail through the Strait of Hormuz.

McGarry says that the statement made by Iran’s foreign minister “basically changes nothing” as the implicit threat of mines remain.

“But right now the scenarios are looking pretty bleak for shipping over the next few weeks,” he says.

The Israel Defence Forces says it "remains on high alert and will continue to remove threats in southern Lebanon throughout the area between the border with Israel and the designated line".

In a statement on Telegram earlier, the force said this is "in accordance with ceasefire understandings".

The post says on Thursday night, IDF soldiers began an operation last night, prior to the ceasefire agreement coming into effect. Soldiers landed in the "Christofani Ridge" in southern Lebanon and "established an operational presence in the area".

Earlier, Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli forces hit the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon last night just before the ceasefire came into effect, killing 13 people and injuring 35. The outlet has now updated the number of wounded people to 70.

Lebanese state media says that an Israeli airstrike has killed one person today, after the 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect last night.

The state-run National News Agency quotes the Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health, reporting in Arabic that a motorcyclist was killed, and three people were wounded on a highway in the Bint Jbeil district, after being targeted by a drone.

The agency separately reported that the Israel Defence Forces had also fired two shells towards the town of Bayut al-Sayyad today.

We have approached the IDF for comment.

Image source, Pool/Getty Images

The BBC's US partner, CBS News, is reporting that US officials may return to Pakistan for further talks with Iran within days.

Citing "several people familiar with the deliberations", CBS says that the Trump administration is looking at sending senior officials back to Pakistan to renew talks with Iran.

These negotiations could resume as soon as Monday, it says.

• A reminder: Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, hosted US and Iranian delegations for talks last weekend, but failed to reach a peace deal. There are also reports that Pakistan's army chief met Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday as part of efforts to extend the current ceasefire agreement.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

The secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation, Arsenio Dominguez, has told the BBC that the shipping industry needs to be "cautious" about Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz is open.

Speaking to Newshour, Dominguez says "any progress of course is welcome but I'm still in the process of verifying the information that is circulating".

He says "the main concern" remains the "20,000 seafarers that are trapped", along with nearly 2,000 vessels.

"For us it is imperative that the ships resuming transit in the Strait of Hormuz do it in a safe manner," he says.

Dominguez says that he doesn't have "specific guarantees" at the moment, so is calling "for the shipping industry to be cautious until there is more clarity".