Three fully laden India-linked supertankers – the Desh Vibhor, Desh Vaibhav, and Sanmar Herald – have re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea after being last seen signaling their attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz late Friday. This re-emergence adds to an observed increase in bi-directional traffic across both the northern and southern routes of the Strait, even as there are conflicting reports from Iran and the US regarding the status of transits through the waterway.
The supertankers, signaling Indian ownership or India-bound cargo, collectively carry nearly 6 million barrels of Iraqi and Kuwaiti oil. While their exact routes could not be immediately determined, their attempts to sail towards the Iranian island of Qeshm suggest they might have used a route approved by Tehran. Shipping Corporation of India, owner/manager of Desh Vibhor and Desh Vaibhav, and Sanmar Shipping Ltd., operator of Sanmar Herald, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
These journeys are part of a growing trend of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz. This increased activity comes amid competing narratives from Iran and the US, especially as both sides are set to begin peace deal negotiations on Sunday. Iran had proclaimed the strait shut on Saturday, citing Israel's continued attacks in southern Lebanon as a violation of a ceasefire deal. However, the US Central Command countered this claim, stating on Saturday that traffic had actually increased, with 55 merchant ships crossing the strait and delivering nearly 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
Additionally, three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers, carrying over 8.6 lakh tonnes of cargo and 94 crew members, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and are en route to India. These tankers, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, and Sanmar Herald, are expected to reach Indian ports between June 24 and July 1. This transit followed the lifting of a US blockade on Iran, allowing oil tankers to move freely, a development spurred by a tentative agreement to end a war that had largely rendered the channel unusable for months. The US President Donald Trump had signed an agreement on Wednesday to waive US-backed sanctions on Iran, allowing free oil sales.
The successful transit of these Indian ships marks the highest number of Indian vessels to cross the strategic waterway in a single day since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, bringing the total to 18 India-bound ships (13 Indian and 5 foreign-flagged) that have used the route. Earlier, the Sanmar Herald had been attacked by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 18 during a previous transit attempt. Despite Iran's renewed declaration to close the Strait of Hormuz due to continued Israeli attacks, the movement of ships has notably increased since the peace deal announcement, with 25 commercial vessels crossing on Thursday alone, marking the highest number since mid-April.
