Three Iranian-flagged oil tankers, Diona, Hero II, and Sonia I, owned by the US-sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company, have successfully passed the US blockade line in the Gulf of Oman. These tankers, carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of crude oil according to TankerTrackers.com, mark Iran's first oil exports in two months. Data from MarineTraffic indicates Hero II and Sonia I departed Iran's Chabahar port on Tuesday, while Diona began broadcasting its location just past the blockade yesterday. The US blockade had previously reduced Iran's crude exports to 260,000 barrels per day in May, a significant drop from the 2025 average of 1.67 million barrels per day.
The passage of these tankers comes as the US and Iran are set to sign a peace agreement in Switzerland on Friday, which is expected to lead to a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite President Trump's earlier announcement of an "immediate removal" of the blockade, US naval forces confirmed it would remain until the deal is signed. The Joint Maritime Information Centre has lowered its threat assessment for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from "critical" to "substantial," although it stressed that risks remain elevated.
Optimism regarding the reopening of Hormuz has already impacted global oil prices, with Brent North Sea crude falling to $78.74 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate to $75.85 a barrel on June 17. The framework agreement, reportedly signed electronically by US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Iranian officials, includes a waiver of sanctions on oil sales, banking, transportation, and insurance effective immediately after Friday's signing. Negotiations for a final settlement, including Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of further sanctions, are scheduled to begin after the Swiss ceremony and continue for 60 days.
The expected reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has prompted a repositioning of maritime fleets, with more than 75 tankers, including those from Sinokor and Maran Tankers Management, heading towards the Middle East. Qatar's LNG sector is also making preparations, with several LNG carriers returning to the region after weeks of inactivity. While the US government asserts that commercial traffic through a southern route off Oman has already increased to 25 ships per day and is expected to reach 40-50 quickly, industry analysts anticipate it will take about 30 days for the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal operations.
A key point of contention remains the issue of fees for passage through the Strait. While President Trump stated the Strait would be "permanently toll free," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, indicated vessels would pay "service fees" for navigation-related facilities, environmental protection, and maritime support. This distinction between a "toll" and a "fee" could be a point of disagreement, as international law generally does not allow coastal states to charge for passage through a natural waterway.
