United States lifts Iran naval blockade after agreement to end Middle East fighting

The United States has lifted its naval blockade of Iran after the two countries reached an agreement intended to end fighting across the Middle East.

US Central Command confirmed on X that the blockade had ended. The command added that some American vessels would remain in the broader area even though the blockade itself is no longer in place.

Shortly afterwards, Iran's supreme leader said he had approved the deal with Washington even though he held a different view on it, without offering further explanation. He said he allowed the agreement to proceed after receiving assurances from Iran's president that the rights of the Iranian nation would be protected.

The supreme leader also said US President Donald Trump had, out of desperation, used every available form of leverage to bring the deal about.

He further indicated that while in-person negotiations between Tehran and Washington would take place in the future, those talks would not mean acceptance of what he described as the enemy's position.