What is the US position on the Strait of Hormuz reopening timeline, and how do European allies respond?

US President Donald Trump repeatedly claims the Strait of Hormuz will reopen by Friday, but European G7 allies do not share his optimism and doubt trade can resume by week’s end; they have practical questions about what was agreed before committing to de-mining missions and patrols, and internal G7 dynamics show serious difficulty in forming a common position on Iran, with no joint communique expected.

What are the key implementation challenges cited by US officials regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz?

A senior US official stated that shipping traffic will ramp up gradually over time—potentially taking up to two weeks for significant increase and even longer to return to pre-February levels—due to mines still needing clearance and varying shipper risk tolerances; the interim US-Iran memorandum of understanding specifies toll-free navigation for 60 days, but the full text remains unreleased, with conflicting US timelines for its publication, and no formal negotiations on free navigation have even begun.

US at Odds With Allies Over Strait of Hormuz Reopening Timeline

Jun 15, 2026

US President Trump claims the Strait of Hormuz will reopen by Friday, but European allies question the feasibility due to mine clearance challenges. Energy leaders warn against tolls as G7 nations plan de-mining missions contingent on final agreements.

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