

Hormuz is (apparently) unblocked. Energy markets remain a mess
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.On 17th April Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, declared that commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open”. Shortly afterwards Donald Trump, America’s president, echoed his words: the conduit was “completely open and ready for business”.
Oil traders, relieved that 15-20% of the world’s oil, and almost as much of its liquefied natural gas (LNG), might at last be released to global markets, pushed futures prices for Brent, the global benchmark, down by more than 10%, to $89 a barrel, their lowest since March 10th. The spot price at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility, Europe’s gas-trading hub, fell below €40 ($47) per megawatt-hour for the first time since the conflict began.Why Iran, having refused to reopen the strait when its ceasefire with America was announced on April 7th, is relenting now remains unclear.
Perhaps its rulers want to show America they are serious about negotiations. Mr Araghchi’s comments came a day after Mr Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed militants of Hizbullah.
Perhaps the regime was scared that the American blockade of the passage, which has prevented Iranian-linked ships from sailing through the strait since April 13th, would drain its finances. Mounting diplomatic pressure may also have played a part: in recent days countries, from Britain and Germany to China, have urged Iran to restore freedom of navigation.How open the strait really is, and how long it stays that way, is even murkier than Iran’s motivations.
Iran appears to have dropped its plans to charge a toll, which Mr Trump briefly entertained sharing with the Iranians before deeming it unacceptable. But Mr
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