The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to ease the American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. In return, Iran will gradually reopen the key shipping route.

According to Al Arabiya, both sides reached the agreement on Thursday. Iran had blocked the Strait of Hormuz during the early days of the US-Iran conflict. The move disrupted global oil and energy supplies.

Sources told Al Arabiya, “Agreements have been reached regarding easing the blockade in exchange for the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The coming hours will witness the release of ships stuck in the strait."

Reports said stranded ships could soon start moving again as talks between Washington and Tehran show progress.

Trump Pauses ‘Project Freedom’

US President Donald Trump earlier said he feels hopeful about a deal with Iran. He described the talks as “very good" and said the war would “be over quickly".

Trump made the remarks while announcing a temporary pause in “Project Freedom”. The US launched the military-backed operation a day earlier to help commercial ships leave the Strait of Hormuz safely.

At that time, Trump had also said the blockade would remain fully active.

He added that negotiations with Iranian officials had made “great progress" and moved closer to a “complete and final agreement".

Iran Reviews US Proposal

The development came after Iran confirmed that it is reviewing a 14-point memorandum proposed by the United States. The proposal aims to stop the conflict that began on February 28.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Washington and Tehran were moving closer to an agreement through a one-page memorandum.

According to Axios, the proposed deal could require Iran to pause nuclear enrichment activities. In return, the US may ease sanctions and help release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.

The framework also reportedly includes easing restrictions on maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Any military action in the region can quickly affect global energy markets and oil prices.

The latest move signals a possible step toward reducing tensions. However, the continuing military presence in the area shows that major issues between the US and Iran still remain unresolved.