President Donald Trump said April 17 that a U.S.-Iran peace deal could come “in the next day or two,” and Iran declared that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to commercial vessels, even as the U.S. continues its naval blockade on Iranian ports in the strait.
In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said, “The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two.”
He said in a separate interview with Agence France-Presse that the U.S. is “very close” to reaching a deal with Iran, and there are “no sticking points” remaining between the two sides.
He also told CBS that Iran has “agreed to everything” and will cooperate to remove enriched uranium from the country.
“Our people, together with the Iranians, are going to work together to go get it. And then we’ll take it to the United States,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on state TV April 17 that Iran’s enriched uranium will “under no circumstances be transferred anywhere,” according to NBC News.
“Transferring uranium to the United States has not been an option,” Baghaei added. “Just as Iran’s soil is sacred, enriched uranium is the same.”
Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open as ceasefire holds
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on social media that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open to commercial shipping for the duration of the ceasefire.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
Trump welcomed Iran’s announcement in a Truth Social post, writing in all caps, “Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage. Thank you!”
Trump also said in another Truth Social post hours later that Iran “has removed, or is removing, all sea mines” with the help of the U.S.
Iran has also “agreed never to close the Strait of Hormuz again,” Trump said in a Truth Social post hours later. He added, “It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”
Trump had conditioned the ceasefire on Iran’s reopening of the vital shipping corridor, though he later imposed a blockade on Iranian ports after Tehran did not comply and negotiations fell short of a deal.
Markets reacted swiftly to the development. Oil prices fell sharply, with U.S. crude dropping about 10% and Brent crude, the international standard, declining more than 8%. U.S. stock indexes rose at the opening bell, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new all-time highs in early trading, according to NBC News.
US blockade of strait remains in effect
Despite the reopening, Trump said on social media the U.S. naval blockade targeting Iran will remain “in full force and effect” until a final agreement is reached.
The Strait of Hormuz is COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS! pic.twitter.com/bnNcLMnI6g
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 17, 2026
He added in all caps that negotiations for a peace deal “should go very quickly” because “most of the points are already negotiated.”
Baghaei told state media that Iran will “take the necessary measures” if the U.S. does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports.
“If the other side chooses to break its commitments, which it appears it intends to do, and if the naval blockade continues, the Islamic Republic of Iran will in response take the necessary measures, and there is no doubt about this,” he said, according to NBC News.
Trump says US has ‘prohibited’ Israel from attacking Lebanon
Separately, Trump said Israel has been “prohibited” from attacking Lebanon by the U.S. in a Truth Social post, a day after announcing a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer,” he wrote. “They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
According to FOX News, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had said earlier on April 17 that his country’s military campaign against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon has “not yet been completed,” despite the ceasefire.
“We are inside Lebanon, in the midst of a war against Hezbollah, with a freeze in the situation and a ten-day ceasefire,” Katz said. “The IDF holds and will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and captured.”