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Iranian tankers recently sailed through Strait of Hormuz despite US blockade

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • At least three tankers carrying approximately five million barrels of Iranian oil have passed through the US naval blockade this week, signaling a potential resumption of exports.
  • This movement occurs despite the US military maintaining its operations against Iran-linked shipping until Friday, ahead of the formal signing of the Iran war end deal.
  • Shipping data indicates these vessels are heading for Asia, with others repositioning in anticipation of the blockade's end.

Iranian oil tankers are reportedly navigating through the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, with at least three vessels carrying around five million barrels of crude oil having sailed through this week. This activity suggests Iran is preparing to resume its exports and trading, despite the US military's stated intention to maintain operations against Iran-linked shipping until Friday.

The movements coincide with the upcoming signing of a deal to end the Iran war, announced by US President Donald Trump on June 14 and scheduled for signing on June 19. Trump had declared on his Truth Social platform, "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!"

The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!

— Donald TrumpAnnouncing the completion of the deal to end the Iran war.

Shipping data from Kpler and Vortexa shows that two very large crude carriers, the Hero II and Diona, each carrying 2 million barrels, have passed through the Gulf of Oman en route to Asia. The Sonia I, with 1 million barrels, is also heading to Singapore. An empty Iranian-linked VLCC, the Stream, is sailing back toward the US blockade, followed by the partly laden Iranian-flagged Herby supertanker.

The gap between the announcement and the expected signing on June 19 gives both sides scope for issuing conflicting statements on the agreement.

— Torbjorn SoltvedtAnalyst commenting on the period before the deal signing.

Charlie Brown, senior advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), noted that vessels are repositioning in anticipation of the blockade's end, indicating a "system reboot is in progress." While the US military's Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment, UANI analysis shows five Iranian-flagged dry bulk and container ships have also sailed back towards Iran after weeks anchored off Malaysia's coast.

These developments follow a period where the US blockade had driven Iranian crude exports to a six-year low in May, averaging 260,000 barrels per day, a significant drop from 2025's average of 1.67 million bpd. The memorandum of understanding, to be signed Friday, includes provisions for the US to allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel.

The signal has gone out and they are repositioning in expectation of the end of the US blockade. Clearly, a system reboot is in progress.

— Charlie BrownSenior advisor at UANI, commenting on tanker movements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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