economicJun 17, 2026

Iranian oil tankers pass US blockade ahead of peace deal signing

Summary

The naval blockade began on 13 April and targeted all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas. Iranian oil tankers have passed through a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in two months, a maritime intelligence company said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Washington prepare to sign a peace deal aimed at ending the war. According to TankerTrackers, at least two National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) supertankers named Diona and Hero2 exited the blockade line carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil between them. The tracking site said the NITC's Stream ship was also approaching the blockade from the Pakistan exclusive economic zone, where it said it had been waiting to enter Iran for the past seven weeks. The naval blockade began on 13 April as tensions between the US and Iran ramped up. It targeted all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including Iranian ports on the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, following an announcement from US President Donald Trump. It comes after an agreement on a peace deal was announced by mediator Pakistan and Trump on Sunday. In a post on social media, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said the two sides had reached a deal and "declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon". Sharif added that an official signing ceremony would take place on Friday, 19 June in Switzerland. Trump later confirmed the news in a post on Truth Social, writing: "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete". "I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" he added. Details on the precise terms of the agreement remain light, but Trump has repeatedly said any deal would hinge on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and assurances that Tehran would not obtain a nuclear weapon. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called for Trump to publish the agreement in full. "Trump must hold a classified meeting on his so-called 'understanding' with Iran," he wrote on X. "He must brief all of Congress. He must inform the American people and make the 'understanding' public. "Americans need to know how and when this war will truly end. The longer this war goes, the worse things will get," he added.

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Nathan RennoldsBy Nathan Rennolds
The naval blockade began on 13 April and targeted all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas. Iranian oil tankers have passed through a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in two months, a maritime intelligence company said on Wednesday, …

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