Iran war live: Strait of Hormuz open ‘for remaining period of ceasefire’

The US president has renewed his attacks on US news outlets over what he sees as critical coverage of his Iran policies.

“The Failing New York Times, FAKE NEWS CNN, and others, just don’t know what to do,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

“They are desperately looking for a reason to criticize President Donald J. Trump on the Iran situation, but just can’t find it. Why don’t they just say, at the right time, JOB WELL DONE, MR. PRESIDENT, and start to gain back their credibility???”

Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera the ceasefire in Lebanon offers “badly needed respite” to a population battered by months of war, particularly the Shia community, many of whom have been displaced.

UN figures estimate that more than a million people have been driven from their homes by the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

Wimmen noted that relief at the end of Israeli attacks is widespread, but not evenly felt.

“While thousands of displaced, mostly Shia southern Lebanese, pour back to their areas in jubilation and often with displays of triumph, for those who oppose Hezbollah, relief mixes with concern that the group will feel newly emboldened,” he said, adding that it would not break Hezbollah’s entanglements in regional conflicts.

The Civil Defence in southern Lebanon has told Al Jazeera that one person was killed when an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in Beit Yahoun, despite the 10-day ceasefire and Trump’s claim that he prohibited further Israeli bombardment.

The speed at which the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire was agreed upon demonstrates the leverage Trump holds over Netanyahu when he chooses to use it, says Michael Hanna, US programme director at the International Crisis Group.

“As with earlier episodes in his second term in Yemen, Iran and Gaza, Trump has demonstrated his ability to bring Israel into line when Israeli policy has threatened his own priorities,” Hanna told Al Jazeera.

Like other analysts, Hanna downplayed the prospects of a more comprehensive agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, but said the ceasefire in Lebanon improves the chances of de-escalating the wider regional war.

The US president claims that Iran has “agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again”.

He said in a social media post that “It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”

• Iran’s FM Araghchi says the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” for all commercial vessels for the 10-day period of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
• Trump added that the strait is “completely open and ready for business”, but US’s naval blockade of Iran will remain in place until a deal with Iran is reached.
• Trump added that signing a deal with Iran “should go very quickly” as most points have been negotiated.
• He insisted that the US will get all of Iran’s enriched uranium, which he refers to as “nuclear dust”.
• The US president said he “prohibited” Israel from bombing Lebanon. He added that the issue of Hezbollah’s presence would be dealt with separately from Iran and in an “appropriate manner”.
• Netanyahu vowed to continue “dismantling” the Lebanese group as Israel had “not yet finished the job”.

The number of people killed by Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2 has reached 2,294.

At least 7,544 people have also been wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

A senior Iranian military official told state TV that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will require IRGC permission.

Separately, an Iranian official told Reuters news agency that all commercial vessels, including US-flagged ships, are permitted to pass through the strait, while naval vessels will not be granted transit.

Trump has continued with his social media posts, with the latest one saying that “Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!”.

Trump is now claiming to have received a call from NATO, but says he rejected its offer to help with the Strait of Hormuz and told them to “stay away”.

Israel has not yet finished dealing with Hezbollah, Netanyahu said, pledging to press on with the Lebanese group’s “dismantling” just hours after a 10-day ceasefire came into effect.

“We have not yet finished the job. There are things we plan to do to address the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat,” he said in a recorded address, saying a key objective was the “dismantling of Hezbollah”.

This comes as Trump said in a social media post that Israel will not be allowed to bomb Lebanon any longer, adding that “enough is enough!!!”.

The situation in Lebanon and the presence of the Hezbollah armed group in the country will be dealt with separately from Iran and in an “appropriate manner”, the US president says.

“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer,” Trump said on Truth Social. “They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!.”

In a new social media post, the US president says Washington will get all of Iran’s enriched uranium, which he refers to as “nuclear dust”.

He added that no money would be exchanged “in any way, shape, or form” and that this deal would not be subject to developments in Lebanon.