Trump: Ships Moving Out of Strait of Hormuz After Iran Peace Deal

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday ships waiting to transit the crucial Strait of Hormuz are starting to move out of the chokepoint, after he announced the previous day that the United States and Iran have reached a peace deal aimed at ending their monthslong war.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post, as South Korea and other countries welcomed the deal, which he said would reopen the strait, a key shipping route for oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities, upon its official signing set for Friday.

"Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"They are going along the Southern 'Highway,' which is totally safe, secure, and pristine. There are other areas of travel, also!!!" he added.

A large number of vessels, including two dozen South Korea-linked ships, have been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively choked off with threats of missile and drone strikes amid its war with the U.S. and Israel.

Washington and Tehran are set to officially sign a framework peace deal Friday, which a senior U.S. official said would involve the opening of the strait and the launch of 60-day technical discussions on Iran's nuclear program.