In this screenshot from a video released by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea imposed naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was attempting to sail to an Iranian port on April 19, 2026 in the Arabian Sea.
US Central Command | Getty Images
At least three Iranian tankers carrying nearly five million barrels of crude oil have left the U.S. Navy’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the first such shipment in two months, as shipowners cautiously reposition themselves ahead of the signing of a U.S.-Iran deal Friday in Geneva.
Two supertankers named Diona and Hero 2, both belonging to the National Iranian Tanker Company and under American sanctions — passed through the U.S. Navy blockade perimeter, carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, according to shipping data provided by Kpler.
A third Iran-linked tanker carrying 1 million barrels of Iranian crude left the blockade line on Wednesday, according to Kpler.
“Their apparent lifting of the blockade suggests that other Iranian oil tankers are also preparing to resume trading,” said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding Monday to end nearly four months of war, with a formal signing ceremony taking place Friday in Geneva. The agreement, details of which have not been disclosed, is expected reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift sanctions on Iranian oil sales.
Washington would allow Tehran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel once the deal is signed this week, in exchange for Iran’s commitment to curbing its nuclear program, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war, was effectively closed for the duration of the conflict. The US Navy has Iranian ports blockedand Iran targeted ships linked to countries it considered adversaries, blocking hundreds of ships and disrupting global energy flows.
The maritime industry treats the news with something more like cautious disbelief than celebration.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence
The prospect of a reopening has encouraged certain shipowners, battered by months of rising transport costs and war risk insurance premiums – to begin repositioning ships to Gulf ports in anticipation of increased resupply demand, while most are more cautious and continue to hold back.
“The shipping industry is treating the news with something more like cautious disbelief than celebration,” Lloyd’s List Intelligence said.
Insurers are standing firm on high war risk premiums, demanding “robust evidence” that the waterway will remain safe, Lloyd’s analysts said. “Even though a pause in hostilities will free stranded seafarers and boost tanker and bulk markets, the industry views this as a fragile respite rather than a return to normal,” analysts said in a client note on Tuesday.
But some owners of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are seeking to gain a “first mover advantage”, positioning their tankers towards the Middle East Gulf, while others are considering holding back, according to Lloyd’s.
Dozens of VLCCs are sailing from the South China Sea and across the Indian Ocean to ports in the United Arab Emirates, where at least 30 vessels were already at anchor, according to the maritime intelligence firm. In the wind Wednesday.
For now, traffic across the strait is expected to remain minimal, with both blockades remaining in effect until the deal is officially signed on Friday. THE US Navy reminded the industry that “nothing has changed and will not change until the deal is signed,” said Tim Wilkins, chief executive of Intertanko, an association of independent tankers.
The extent of the delay is considerable. Estimated Kpler 118 loaded tankers could leave the region within 15 days of signing the agreement, but the influx of departing ships is likely to be a one-off rather than a one-off event. sustainable recovery of traffic.
“Most shipowners appear to be cautiously waiting for more details before planning further transits through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping analyst at BIMCO. “They will seek to ensure that transits are not only permitted but also safe before sending their ships through the strait.”
