‘Thanks to Pak', 'Israel prohibited from attacking Lebanon’: Trump's many posts after Iran says Strait of Hormuz open
April 17, 2026
In his first post, Trump said, “Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage," in his signature all-caps style.
In a rapid series of social media posts, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Israel is now “prohibited” by the United States from attacking Lebanon, following a new 10-day ceasefire that took effect in the war-torn nation. The pronouncements came as Iran separately declared the vital Strait of Hormuz "completely open" to commercial shipping, a move tied to the halt in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Mr. Trump celebrated the developments, suggesting a broader peace deal with Tehran was imminent and crediting the diplomatic progress to a variety of factors, including, in one post, a simple "Thanks to Pak," an apparent nod to Pakistan's significant role in mediating recent U.S.-Iran negotiations.
The day's events mark a pivotal moment in a conflict that has gripped the Middle East for weeks, escalating from a direct U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28. That conflict led to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about a fifth of the world's oil supply, causing energy prices to spike and fueling fears of a global recession. The new calm follows a recently brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which began overnight, pausing weeks of devastating Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah rocket attacks that have killed over 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, explicitly linked the reopening of the strait to this truce.
In his social media statements, President Trump projected confidence that the developments signaled a conclusive end to the wider conflict. He asserted that Iran had agreed to never again close the Strait of Hormuz and would give up its enriched uranium, which he referred to as "nuclear 'dust'". However, this optimism was tempered by his own clarification that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in full force until a final transaction with Iran is "100% complete." Iranian officials also offered a more cautious view, with Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that the strait would not remain open if the U.S. blockade continues, stating that realities on the ground, not social media, would determine the outcome.
Pakistan has emerged as a crucial intermediary in the crisis, hosting direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Islamabad. Though an earlier round of negotiations failed to produce a final deal, Islamabad's diplomatic efforts have been credited with helping to establish a fragile two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire that preceded the current Lebanon truce and set the stage for de-escalation. The nation's ability to maintain credible relations with Washington, Tehran, and other regional powers like Saudi Arabia has positioned it as a key facilitator in the ongoing peace process.
As displaced Lebanese families began cautiously returning to their homes, the international community is watching the fragile truces with a mix of hope and skepticism. The next steps likely involve further intense negotiations, potentially over the weekend, to see if the temporary ceasefires can be transformed into a more permanent and comprehensive agreement. While oil prices have tumbled on the news of the reopened strait, the continued U.S. blockade on Iran and the conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran underscore the deep-seated challenges that remain in securing lasting peace across the region.
Source: hindustantimes