Iranian Oil Tankers Breach U.S. Blockade After Ceasefire Deal
Iranian oil tankers carrying five million barrels of crude have broken through the former U.S. blockade in the Gulf region following President Trump's ceasefire agreement with Tehran.
As Breitbart News reports, ship tracking firms Kpler and Vortexa have confirmed that two very large crude carriers known as Hero II and Diona successfully navigated the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday. Each vessel holds roughly 2 million barrels of Iranian oil and is now en route to Asian destinations.
A third vessel, the smaller tanker Sonia I, has also crossed the blockade perimeter and is heading toward Singapore.
All three ships belong to the National Iranian Tanker Company, which fell under U.S. Treasury Department sanctions in October 2020 for generating revenue that flows to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terrorist organization.
First Iranian Ships Broadcasting Since March
Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that Hero II, Diona, and Sonia I mark the first Iranian vessels to operate with active identification transponders since March. While the ships are now transmitting their current locations, none are revealing their final destinations.
Additional Iranian-linked tankers are moving toward the former blockade zone. An empty VLCC called Stream is approaching from the opposite direction, alongside a partially filled supertanker named Herby. Stream ceased transmitting its position upon reaching the blockade line.
Charlie Brown of United Against Nuclear Iran characterized the situation plainly, stating that the signal has gone out and vessels are repositioning in anticipation of the blockade’s end.
Iranian Cargo Ships Return From Malaysian Waters
United Against Nuclear Iran confirmed that at least five Iran-flagged cargo vessels that had been stationed near Malaysia have begun their return journey to Iranian waters.
The American blockade officially remains active until the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran receives formal signatures on Friday. However, Iranian vessels are demonstrating greater willingness to cross the former blockade line early compared to international ships trapped in the Persian Gulf. Only a small number of those vessels have ventured to test President Trump’s assurances regarding the reopened Strait of Hormuz.
Industry Skepticism Remains High
Lloyd’s List Intelligence noted in a Tuesday client briefing that the maritime sector approaches the news with cautious skepticism rather than celebration. The intelligence firm characterized the situation as a fragile reprieve rather than a restoration of normal operations, though it predicted that several heavily-loaded VLCCs would soon attempt passage to secure first-mover advantage in the reopened strait.
Windward reported Wednesday that dozens of very large crude carriers have departed from the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, bound for fuel-loading facilities in the United Arab Emirates. These vessels can only reach their UAE destinations by transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
With information from Breitbart News
