Iran announced Friday that commercial ships can now transit the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of restrictions, even as military vessels remain banned and a fragile ceasefire takes hold between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The development comes as nearly 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.Iran’s Mixed Signals on Strait AccessIran’s state television network quoted a senior military official saying commercial vessels can now pass through the critical shipping lane, but only along designated routes with authorization from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Military ships remain prohibited. The announcement came just hours after U.S. destroyers crossed through the strait under Central Command operations, prompting immediate threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to deal severely with future military transits through the waterway. Ceasefire Tensions in LebanonLebanon’s health ministry reported at least 2,294 people killed in Israeli attacks since early March, including 274 women, 177 children, and 100 health workers. The toll came on the first day of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, though Lebanese state media reported an Israeli strike killed one person Friday despite the truce. Under the ceasefire terms, Israel reserves the right to target Hezbollah to prevent planned or ongoing attacks. Hezbollah’s political wing condemned Lebanon’s government for agreeing to the deal, calling it submission to Israeli demands that undermine national sovereignty.Western Leaders Convene on Maritime SecurityFrench President Emmanuel Macron hosted emergency talks in Paris Friday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian leader Giorgia Meloni to address freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. More than 30 representatives from Europe, Asia, and Latin America joined virtually to discuss coordinated measures to protect commercial shipping through the vital waterway. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global oil traffic, making it critical to world energy supplies and economic stability. Regional Instability DeepensThe conflict in Lebanon erupted March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel has said its forces will continue occupying a section of southern Lebanon indefinitely, a point Hezbollah’s political wing cited as proof the ceasefire violates Lebanese sovereignty. Meanwhile, Iran’s shifting stance on strait access reflects ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington over military presence in the region. The United States maintains significant naval forces in the area to ensure freedom of navigation for international commerce.SourcesCbsnews: Live Updates: Iran says Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to all ships amid Israel