Many of the tankers that have transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent days has been linked with Iran following the lifting of the US naval blockade under a new agreement.
At least 30 tankers have departed from the Gulf carrying Iranian oil and petrochemicals since the deal was reached, according to Jemima Shelley, a senior research analyst at the United Against Nuclear Iran campaign.
The US Treasury has also relaxed longstanding sanctions by issuing a license permitting the sale of Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals, and other oil products until 21 August.
On Monday, at least five tankers previously sanctioned by the US for ties to Iran navigated through the strait, according to ship tracking data, transporting up to four million barrels of oil.
“There has been an uptick in ‘normal’ trade as well,” noted Martin Kelly, a crisis management consultant with EOS Risk Group.
Ship-tracking platforms identified four liquefied natural gas carriers en route to Qatar’s Ras Laffan port on Monday, while at least three tankers and three cargo vessels departed the Gulf on Tuesday.
All these vessels followed the Iranian-approved northern route through Iranian territorial waters, bypassing the US-recommended southern corridor near Oman’s coast.
Maritime data further indicates over 250 tankers and 440 cargo ships remain in the Gulf, with their most recent positions logged. Approximately 80% of these vessels are stationary or anchored, and roughly one in six appears to be carrying cargo.
