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Trump says Strait of Hormuz is 'partially open'; deal does not resolve nuclear threat

5 sources · 16 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press ? no verbatim passage

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (June 15) that the Strait of Hormuz — the maritime passage through which approximately 20% of the world's oil transited before the U.S. naval blockade began on April 13 — is "partially open," but added that "they are looking for some mines." The announcement came one day after Washington and Tehran electronically signed a memorandum of understanding that halts the war in the Middle East and establishes a 60-day period to negotiate a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and economic sanctions. According to a senior U.S. official quoted by the New York Times, maritime traffic will not return to normal for two weeks.

Press quotes (2)
Opera Mundi

"O presidente Donald Trump afirmou nesta segunda-feira (15/06) que o Estreito de Ormuz já estava "parcialmente aberto", mas acrescentou que "eles estão procurando por algumas minas"."

Unitedagainstnucleariran

"On June 4, U.S. CENTCOM posted that U.S. forces have redirected 127 commercial ships and disabled 6 ships to prevent them from entering or leaving Iranian ports, as well as allowing 36 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since the commencement of the blockade."

The memorandum, signed by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, requires Iran to dismantle nuclear facilities, end its uranium enrichment program, destroy or remove highly enriched uranium, and accept inspections before receiving economic relief. According to a U.S. official quoted by the Wall Street Journal, "under the deal, Iran could receive broad sanctions relief if it decommissions nuclear sites, ends its enrichment program and stops funding proxy militia groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon." No money would be provided upfront; sanctions relief is conditional on successful execution during the negotiation period. The U.S. naval blockade, which by June 4 had redirected 127 commercial ships and disabled 6 vessels to prevent entry or exit from Iranian ports, will remain "in full force and effect" on Iran until "our transaction with Iran is 100% complete," according to Trump's April 17 post on Truth Social. ?

Press quotes (2)
Iranintl

"Washington has framed it as a performance-based deal that would require Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, destroy or remove highly enriched uranium and accept inspections before receiving economic relief. A US official told the Wall Street Journal that under the deal, Iran could receive broad sanctions relief if it decommissions nuclear sites, ends its enrichment program and stops funding proxy militia groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon."

Aa

"In a second post, Trump wrote that the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open and ready for business and full passage." "But the Naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete."

According to Iranian semi-official news agencies with ties to the Revolutionary Guard, Iran plans to allow free transit through the Strait during the 60-day negotiation period but intends to impose fees afterward. The Fars agency stated that Iran "intends to benefit financially from commercial maritime traffic through the Strait." The Mehr agency reported that the U.S. will release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets during the negotiation period, with half that amount to be made available to Iran before negotiations begin — a figure not officially confirmed by Washington.

Press quotes (2)
Cnnbrasil

"duas agências de notícias iranianas semioficiais com ligações à Guarda Revolucionária relataram nesta segunda-feira (15) que, embora Teerã permita o trânsito gratuito durante o período de 60 dias em que novas negociações ocorrerão, planeja impor taxas após esse período. A agência Fars afirmou que o Irã 'pretende se beneficiar financeiramente do tráfego marítimo comercial pelo Estreito'."

Veja

"O documento publicado pela Mehr estipula 'a liberação de 24 bilhões de dólares em ativos iranianos congelados durante o período de negociação de 60 dias' que começa após a conclusão do memorando de entendimento. 'Metade desse valor deve ser disponibilizada ao Irã antes do início das negociações', especifica o texto, que não foi confirmado oficialmente."

The Globo editorial articulated the strongest criticism of the agreement: despite halting immediate hostilities, it fails to resolve the central nuclear threat. "Iran still maintains, under the rubble of the attacks, enriched uranium at a level sufficient to build up to 12 atomic bombs in a short time. There is, it's true, a formal commitment in the memorandum that the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. But Iran's track record shows this is not a reliable commitment. And, for now, there are no safeguards to ensure it." The Hormuz blockade generated inflation in many countries and fertilizer supply problems; Brent and WTI oil prices fell to around $80 per barrel after the agreement was announced.

Press quotes (2)
Oglobo

"O Irã ainda mantém, sob os escombros dos ataques, urânio enriquecido num patamar suficiente para construir até 12 bombas atômicas em prazo curto. Há no memorando, é verdade, um compromisso formal de que o país não tem a intenção de desenvolver armas nucleares. Mas o retrospecto iraniano mostra que não é um compromisso confiável. E, por ora, não há nenhuma salvaguarda para assegurá-lo."

Diário de Pernambuco

"O fechamento de Ormuz teve grande impacto na economia mundial, gerando inflação em muitos países e problemas de abastecimento de fertilizantes necessários para a produção de alimentos, entre outros."

1. What we know (3)

Trump and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed the memorandum with Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; the public signing ceremony will take place on Friday (19th) in Geneva.

2 sources Diário de Pernambuco Opera Mundi

The Hormuz blockade generated inflation in many countries and fertilizer supply problems.

1 source Diário de Pernambuco

Brent and WTI oil prices fell to around $80 per barrel after the agreement was announced.

1 source Diário de Pernambuco
2. Where coverage thins out (4)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (3)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei "played the most important role in including clauses to safeguard Iran's national interests".

Reported by: Opera Mundi
Did not cover: Diário de Pernambuco

According to the New York Times, the U.S. delegation for the signing ceremony will be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Reported by: Opera Mundi
Did not cover: Diário de Pernambuco

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Iran will charge fees for maritime services.

Reported by: Diário de Pernambuco
Did not cover: Opera Mundi

Conflicting versions (1)

Timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz

1 source — "Trump stated that the Strait will be "completely open" on Friday (19th).": Diário de Pernambuco
1 source — "Trump said the Strait was "partially open," but a U.S. official told the NYT that traffic will not return to normal for two weeks.": Opera Mundi
3. What we don't know yet (4)
  • What is the exact status of Israeli military presence in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza after the agreement?

    Why it's still unknown: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces will remain indefinitely, but the memorandum of understanding has not been fully disclosed, and there is no information on whether the agreement establishes a timeline or conditions for withdrawal.

  • What actually prevented commercial ships from transiting the Strait during the blockade — only U.S. naval forces or also Iranian mines?

    Why it's still unknown: Trump mentioned that "they are looking for some mines," but no source specifies how many mines were placed, when, or whether they posed a greater threat than the naval blockade itself.

  • What will be the verification mechanism for nuclear dismantlement during the 60 days — who inspects, how often, and what veto power do they have?

    Why it's still unknown: The memorandum requires inspections and dismantlement, but no source details the protocol: whether it will be the IAEA, whether there will be American observers, or whether Iran can block visits.

  • Do the $24 billion in frozen assets reported by the Mehr agency correspond to the total Iranian assets held by the U.S., or are they only part of them?

    Why it's still unknown: The figure has not been officially confirmed by Washington, and no American source details the total amount of Iranian assets under sanctions.

All sources

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