Strait of Hormuz Reopening Deal Set for 19 June: Latest Updates and What Travelers Need to Know

Last updated: Jun 15, 2026

The US and Iran have reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the naval blockade.

It is set to be signed on Friday, 19 June 2026 — but the strait is not open yet.

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The US-Iran Deal: What It Covers

President Trump announced on 14 June 2026 that the US and Iran have reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, the lead mediator, confirmed it.

The memorandum of understanding is due to be signed on Friday, 19 June 2026, in Switzerland.

What the deal includes:

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports is lifted — Trump has authorised the blockade to leave the strait
Iran has 30 days to clear all mines and reopen the strait to shipping
Shipping becomes “unrestricted” — no tolls and no harassment of vessels, per the draft text
Oil sanctions are suspended and some frozen funds released
Iran commits not to acquire nuclear weapons
The conflict formally ends within 60 days of the agreement taking effect

Important: as of 15 June 2026, the deal is not yet signed and the blockade has not been physically lifted. The strait is set to reopen within 30 days of signing, once mine clearance is complete.

How We Got Here

The conflict began in late February 2026 and shut the strait to most commercial shipping for over three months. Pakistan has mediated throughout.

The key milestones:

8 April: A two-week US-Iran truce, with Iran agreeing to reopen Hormuz
13 April: The US imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports
18 April: Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again
21 April: Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely
22 April: Iran seized two foreign container ships in the strait
4–5 May: Iran struck the UAE; Dubai airport was briefly closed
Late May: The two sides moved toward a 60-day proposal to end the war
14 June: A deal was reached to reopen the strait and lift the blockade

The Hormuz Blockade: What It Means for Travel

For travellers, the key point still holds: this is mainly a shipping crisis, not an airspace closure. The deal should ease it over the coming weeks.

Where things stand now:

The US naval blockade is being lifted under the deal, and Iran has up to 30 days to clear mines and reopen the strait to shipping
Commercial shipping has been heavily reduced for months and is expected to recover gradually once mine clearance is done
Oil prices rose sharply during the standoff. Fuel surcharges on some flights may ease as shipping normalises — see whether Gulf airfares will fall — but this does not change whether your flight operates

What this means for flights:

Flights are not directly affected by the naval blockade — it is a maritime issue. But the conflict has affected Gulf airspace at times, so schedules can still shift
Shipping to and from non-Iranian Gulf ports (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Jeddah) was never under the US blockade

Gulf Flights and Airspace: Where Things Stand

Gulf airlines are flying at reduced but steadily recovering capacity, with summer schedules expanding through June.

The current picture by airline:

Emirates — operating most of its global network again, with major long-haul routes returning through June. Some flights still use adjusted paths that add flight time
Qatar Airways — serving 120+ destinations from Doha, with its full summer schedule from 16 June 2026, still routed through limited airspace corridors
Etihad Airways — operating a broad daily schedule to around 80 destinations from Abu Dhabi
Air Arabia — flying its network from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah

The airspace picture:

UAE — wartime air traffic restrictions lifted; airports open and operating, with occasional rerouting
Qatar — open via authorised corridors as the full summer schedule resumes
Oman — open and a key transit hub
Saudi Arabia — open, with some routings still adjusted
Bahrain — open; Gulf Air continues to expand its network
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon — EASA still advises European operators to avoid these entirely; most international carriers continue to bypass Iran

European Airlines and the EASA Bulletin

EASA’s Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the Middle East and Persian Gulf remains in effect, telling European-regulated carriers to avoid Iran, Iraq and Lebanon and to use caution across the wider Gulf. Watch the next EASA review for when European airlines fully return to Gulf routes.

What to Do If You’re Travelling in the Coming Weeks

Gulf airlines are maintaining their recovery schedules, and the deal points toward calmer conditions. Still, check before you fly.

If you have flights booked through a Gulf hub:

Check your airline’s status page before heading to the airport — Emirates travel updates, Qatar Airways travel alerts, or your carrier’s equivalent
Allow extra time for any rerouted flights, as some routes still use longer paths
Watch the next EASA review, which controls when European airlines fully return to Gulf routes

If you’re booking new travel:

Choose flexible cancellation or rebooking terms where you can
Compare routes on Wego to see which carriers operate your route

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the Strait of Hormuz reopened?

Not yet. A deal to reopen it was reached on 14 June 2026 and is due to be signed on Friday, 19 June. Iran then has up to 30 days to clear mines before shipping fully resumes.

When will the US naval blockade be lifted?

Under the deal, Trump has authorised the blockade to leave the strait. It lifts as the agreement takes effect after the 19 June signing.

What does the US-Iran deal include?

Lifting the naval blockade, mine clearance within 30 days, unrestricted shipping, suspended oil sanctions, released frozen funds, and an Iranian commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons. The war formally ends within 60 days.

Does this affect my flight?

Not directly. It is a maritime deal. Gulf airspace has broadly reopened, though some routings remain adjusted, so allow a little extra time.

Are Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad still flying?

Yes. All three are operating broad schedules that keep expanding through June. Qatar Airways’ full summer schedule starts on 16 June 2026.

Will oil prices and fuel surcharges fall?

Prices rose during the standoff and may ease as shipping normalises once the strait reopens, but the timing is uncertain. For the full picture, see whether Gulf airfares will fall.

Can European airlines fly to the Gulf now?

EASA’s bulletin still tells European carriers to avoid Iran, Iraq and Lebanon and to use caution across the Gulf. Watch the next EASA review for a full return.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.