At least three tankers carrying Iranian crude have passed through the US naval blockade in the Gulf this week, signaling the first signs of a recovery in Iran’s oil exports following the breakthrough agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Shipping data reviewed on Wednesday showed that the vessels began moving after both countries reached a framework deal aimed at ending months of conflict and reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The resumption of shipments marks a major shift in global energy markets, with expectations growing that additional Iranian oil supplies could further ease crude prices.
Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) Hero II and Diona, each carrying about two million barrels of Iranian oil, have already passed through the Gulf of Oman and are heading east, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa.
A third tanker, the Suezmax vessel Sonia I, carrying roughly one million barrels of crude, has also cleared the blockade and is bound for Singapore.
Data showed that the cargoes had been loaded between late March and early April but remained stranded during the conflict.
Another Iranian-linked tanker, Stream, is reportedly heading toward the Gulf of Oman and could join the flow of renewed exports in the coming days.
Iran’s crude exports plunged sharply after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade.
According to Kpler data, exports fell to about 260,000 barrels per day in May their lowest level in six years and less than one-fifth of Iran’s 2025 average production.
Under the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, the United States is expected to allow Iran to immediately resume oil and fuel sales as part of broader efforts to stabilize the region.
The prospect of fresh supplies from the Middle East has already weighed on global oil markets, with Brent crude falling to three-month lows after surging during the conflict.
Analysts say a full recovery in oil production across the region could still take months, but the movement of Iranian tankers through the Gulf suggests the first tangible signs that the post-war energy landscape is beginning to take shape.
