Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (Apr 17) the Strait of Hormuz was open following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, while US President Donald Trump said talks could take place this weekend and he believed a deal to end the Iran war would come "soon".

Araghchi said in a post on X the strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the US-brokered 10-day truce that was agreed on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon to halt fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Shortly after Araghchi's statement, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for passage."

But statements from both sides left uncertainty over how quickly shipping could resume. Trump said a US blockade of ships sailing to Iranian ports - announced after talks with Tehran last weekend ended without agreement - would remain until "our transaction with Iran is 100 per cent complete".

Iran responded sharply, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei warning that Tehran would take "necessary reciprocal measures" if a maritime blockade continued.

Vessel traffic data showed a group of around 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers, moving through the Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz. It was unclear whether they would be stopped or allowed to pass.

It also was unclear how the two sides would address Iran's nuclear program, which has been a key sticking point in talks so far.

Trump told Reuters the US will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States as part of any deal to end the war.