Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Web Desk: Iran has successfully exported its first major crude oil shipments in two months, with three supertankers carrying nearly 4.8 million barrels of oil sailing through the US naval blockade, according to maritime tracking data cited by international news agencies .
Ship tracking website TankerTrackers.com, citing satellite imagery, confirmed that at least two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), Diona and Hero II, belonging to the National Iranian Tanker Company, carrying a combined 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude, sailed through the US blockade lines . The site later reported a third vessel had also departed, carrying approximately 1 million barrels .
Vessels Pass Through as US Blockade Lifts
The breakthrough came less than 24 hours after the finalization of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, which mandated the immediate and complete lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran as part of a broader cessation of hostilities on all fronts . The vessels, which had been stranded for months amid the American blockade, passed through international waters unimpeded .
The MoU, reportedly mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, formally ended US-Israeli hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon and terminated the naval blockade against Iran . A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland .
Economic and Market Impact
According to reports, the US will allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel products under the terms of the MoU, with sanctions waivers on oil sales, including banking, transport, and insurance services, taking effect upon signing . Negotiations on the final agreement, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of international economic sanctions, are expected to continue during a 60-day window following the Swiss signing ceremony .
The news of the Strait of Hormuz reopening has already contributed to a decline in international oil prices . Experts suggest that if confirmed, this development represents a significant economic breakthrough for Iran, as its oil exports had been severely impacted by tensions in the Gulf region in recent months.
