Iran sends tankers loaded with oil past US military blockade

Lead

Ship-tracking data shows that three Iranian oil tankers have crossed the US naval blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, according to multiple sources, in what could signal the resumption of Iranian crude exports after a two-month halt.

The tankers, all owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), sailed past the blockade line on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the maritime tracking service TankerTrackers and data from MarineTraffic, as reported by Al Jazeera and the BBC.

The development comes two days before US and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet in Switzerland to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and begin broader negotiations, following a framework agreement to end the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from Al Jazeera and the BBC presents a broadly consistent picture of the tanker movements, though each outlet emphasizes different aspects. Al Jazeera, citing TankerTrackers, identified the crossing as Iran's "first crude oil exports in two months" and highlighted the potential for immediate sanctions relief. The BBC, meanwhile, focused on the tankers' movement as a sign of Iranian confidence that the blockade is ending, despite US insistence that it remains in effect until the deal is signed.

Both outlets reported that the tankers — the Diona, Hero II, and Sonia I — are part of the NITC fleet, which has been sanctioned by the US Treasury. The vessels themselves are also under US sanctions, according to the BBC.

Key Claims

According to TankerTrackers, as cited by Al Jazeera, two NITC tankers, the Diona and Hero 2 (also referred to as Hero II by the BBC), carrying a combined 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude, exited the blockade line on Tuesday. A third tanker, the Sonia I, carrying 1 million barrels, sailed past the US Navy's blockade line in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, according to the same tracking service.

The BBC reported that the three tankers left Iran's Chabahar port on Tuesday and crossed into the Arabian Sea in the early hours of Wednesday. The Diona, which had been broadcasting its location, switched on its tracker just past the blockade line, according to MarineTraffic data.

The BBC also reported that two other NITC-owned crude oil tankers began broadcasting their positions in the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia on Tuesday, suggesting increased activity among Iranian-linked vessels. Windward Maritime Intelligence's senior analyst, Michelle Wiese Bockman, told the BBC that this "sign that Iran is confident the blockade is over, even if the US has insisted it will be in place until Friday."

Al Jazeera reported that TankerTrackers identified the tankers' movements using digital tracking data corroborated by satellite imagery. The same report stated that the US will allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel after signing the MoU, with a waiver of sanctions on oil sales taking effect immediately.

Perspectives

From Tehran's perspective, the tanker movements signal confidence that the blockade is effectively over, as the BBC's analyst noted. The resumption of oil exports would provide much-needed economic relief after months of sanctions.

From Washington's perspective, the official position remains that the blockade stays until the MoU is signed on Friday. The US has not publicly commented on the tanker movements, and the sanctions on NITC remain in place.

Observers note that the tankers' broadcasts of their positions — the first since March, according to Windward — indicate a deliberate move to show compliance and transparency, perhaps to ease the way for sanctions relief.

The broader context includes a 60-day negotiation period after the MoU signing, aimed at reaching a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and a plan to lift international sanctions, as reported by Al Jazeera.

As of this writing, the tankers have not yet reached their destinations, and it remains unclear whether they will deliver their cargo or face further obstacles. The situation underscores the fragile nature of the US-Iran rapprochement and the complex logistics of enforcing and lifting maritime blockades.