Washington says agreement with Iran would restore shipping through Hormuz A senior US administration official said the lifting of the American blockade on Iran would take place alongside the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks reported by Fox News. The official said a later phase of the proposed arrangement would focus on mine-clearance operations to ensure the safety of maritime traffic through the strategic waterway. The official added that Iran would reopen the strait to international shipping without imposing transit fees and expressed confidence in the negotiations, saying, “We believe we have reached a fantastic and very strong agreement with Iran.” The reported comments come amid continuing efforts by Washington and Tehran to finalise a broader memorandum of understanding covering regional security and economic issues.