US announces end of Iranian blockade by August 31, 2026?

The blockade will almost certainly not end officially by August 31 because the US is actively enforcing it amid continued strikes and failed diplomacy.

According to Associated Press and Euronews reports, US forces reinstated the blockade in mid-July and have enforced it with tanker interdictions while conducting strikes for nine consecutive nights through July 20. The BBC noted Trump quickly dropped a proposed toll plan, showing tactical flexibility, but there has been no strategic shift: CENTCOM has not signaled any suspension, and Iranian officials have rejected interim terms as worthless. Because the administration is actively using the blockade as leverage during ongoing hostilities, a formal, authorized announcement that generally ends or suspends it by August 31 would require either a signed deal—currently blocked by sequencing disputes—or an abrupt unilateral reversal that conflicts with the observed enforcement posture. Both pathways are highly unlikely in the remaining 42 days.