Swiss breakthrough: Strait of Hormuz flows again as US and Iran agree on nuclear inspections
The US and Iran confirmed the full reopening of the strategic waterway to commercial vessels. The first round of talks in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, yielded results: a 60 day plan for a final agreement, a ceasefire in Lebanon and security mechanisms. Trump cited Iranian concessions on nuclear inspections. Iran and Oman agreed on joint management of the strait.
As reported by CCTV+, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital energy transport routes, has been fully reopened to commercial vessels, the US and Iran confirmed on Tuesday after negotiators from both countries, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators, completed the first round of talks in central Switzerland. The developments came a day after mediators announced encouraging results from the first round of indirect US Iran talks, including a 60 day plan for a final agreement, mechanisms to ensure the safety of commercial shipping through the strait and a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Negotiators began their talks on Sunday at the Bürgenstock resort in central Switzerland, marking the first direct talks between the two sides since the signing of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding last week. Under the memorandum, the US and Iran declare an immediate and final end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and commit to negotiations and a final peace agreement within a maximum of 60 days.
Iran's ambassador to the UN office in Geneva announced on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels with no fees charged. He said both sides had agreed to establish a communication line to ensure safe passage. The situation will be reviewed after 60 days depending on the outcome of the talks. The US president said on the same day that, given Iran's "significant concessions," including agreement to top level nuclear inspections, the US would allow the strait to remain open without further blockade.
Iran and Oman on Tuesday issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to ensuring safe passage through the strait, stressing that all arrangements must fully respect their sovereignty and sovereign rights. Analyst data confirmed the resumption of traffic: at least 36 commercial vessels transited the strait on Monday — the highest daily figure since the war began. On Tuesday, two more supertankers stuck in the Gulf passed through, each carrying 2 million barrels of crude. Before the conflict, more than one fifth of global oil and LNG passed through the strait. Despite the progress, the US and Iran remain divided on key elements of a broader agreement, including nuclear inspections and the use of unfrozen assets.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, through which about 20% of global oil and 40% of LNG passed before the conflict. Its effective blockade began on February 28, 2026, after the US Israel attack on Iran. The 60 day transition period provided for in the memorandum gives the parties time to reach final decisions on Iran's nuclear programme and other contentious issues. The resumption of shipping is the first, but not the last, step towards normalisation.
When tankers once again sail through the Strait of Hormuz and the daily count surpasses three dozen, the world breathes a sigh of relief. But behind the numbers — 36 transits, 2 million barrels on each supertanker — lies more than logistics. It lies hope. Hope that diplomacy does work, that the mediators did not fly to Switzerland in vain, and that the negotiators did not sit at the table for nothing. Sixty days is not just a deadline. It is a window in which to turn a ceasefire into peace. And while the first ships pass through the strait and nuclear inspections remain a sticking point, the main thing has already been done: the water is free again. Now the future must be made free as well.
