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Since the United States lifted its blockade on June 18, more than 34 million barrels of Iranian crude oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman. (Reuters photo)
Iran is accelerating the movement of its own ships through the increasingly congested Strait of Hormuz as renewed fighting with the United States disrupts one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
The latest escalation has slowed commercial traffic through the strategic waterway, but Tehran has continued moving oil and goods in and out of its ports after a preliminary peace deal signed in June lifted the US blockade and eased enforcement against Iran’s so-called shadow fleet.
The development comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared again, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies.
Commercial traffic falls sharply
According to ship tracking firm Windward, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz declined for the third consecutive night between July 9 and July 10. The company said only six vessels crossed the waterway during a 12-hour period, compared with the usual 18 to 22 ships that passed through just a few days earlier.
Windward also reported a sharp increase in “dark transits”, where vessels switch off their tracking transponders to conceal their locations. Such movements now account for nearly 40 per cent of all traffic through the strait, the highest level recorded in six days.
Meanwhile, satellite and vessel tracking data compiled by Kpler showed that more than one-third of the 101 ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz over the past three days used a route close to the Iranian coastline. Most of these vessels were transporting goods into Iran or carrying Iranian oil to international markets.
Iranian exports gather pace
Since the United States lifted its blockade on June 18, more than 34 million barrels of Iranian crude oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Kpler. Several vessels that crossed during the past three days had previously faced the risk of interception.
These included a Benin-flagged tanker sanctioned by the United States that loaded two million barrels of Iranian crude, two Iranian container ships owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, which remains under sanctions over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and a Comoros-flagged cargo vessel investigated by the United Nations in 2024 over suspected Iranian arms smuggling to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The wider recovery in shipping through Hormuz has slowed due to continued exchanges of fire between the US and Iran.
Ship trackers said uncertainty over maritime security has contributed to the decline in commercial traffic, particularly after Iran targeted vessels using a Washington-backed shipping route along the Omani coast earlier this week.
Blockade relief boosts Iran’s trade
Iran’s shipping activity accelerated after the United States lifted its naval blockade following the June agreement.
During the two-month blockade, Iranian oil exports were effectively halted, leaving crude stored onshore and aboard tankers while creating financial pressure on Tehran. The blockade also raised concerns among Iranian officials over declining food supplies and the country’s ability to finance essential imports.
Following the lifting of restrictions, oil stranded in storage and floating tankers began moving towards buyers and storage facilities, particularly near China.
At least two Iranian state-controlled cargo ships that had remained stranded in Asia for months were able to resume operations. Two additional ships carrying Iranian iron ore also departed for China.
Food imports also increased. Although agricultural products had remained exempt from sanctions, many shipping companies had avoided deliveries because of legal risks linked to transactions with Iran.
According to Kpler, three soybean cargoes from Brazil crossed the Strait of Hormuz for Iran during the final days of June. Iran relies heavily on soybean imports to feed livestock amid rising dairy and meat prices.
Challenges remain despite exports
Despite the increase in exports, Iran continues to face obstacles in finding buyers.
While shipments have reached transfer hubs off Malaysia, international buyers remain cautious after the United States declared that the sanctions waiver permitting purchases of Iranian oil is now void.
Tom Reed, head of oil market analysis at Argus Media, told Wall Street Journal that refineries in countries such as South Korea and Japan require time to complete legal and compliance checks before purchasing Iranian crude. “It’s a bit of a race against the clock,” Reed said. He added that buyers had become accustomed to purchasing Iranian oil at discounted prices during the sanctions period and were now waiting for Tehran to lower prices again.
China, Iran’s largest customer, also reduced imports in June. According to ship tracker Vortexa, Chinese imports of Iranian oil fell to 880,000 barrels a day, down 38 per cent from May.
US issues fresh warning
Experts warned that Iran risks pushing the situation too far. After renewed fighting, President Donald Trump revoked the sanctions waiver and said the US Navy could once again intercept vessels leaving Iran if attacks on shipping continue.
“Iran doesn’t know when and how to stop,” said Mohamed Amersi, an Iran expert and member of the Global Advisory Council of the Wilson Center. “They should take their win and build on it.”
Meanwhile, according to an Axios report, the United States has issued what it described as a final ultimatum to Iran, giving Tehran until Saturday to publicly condemn the recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and explicitly declare the waterway open for unrestricted international shipping.
A senior US official told Axios that if Iran failed to take that position by the deadline, “it is not going to be a good day for them”, signalling Washington’s readiness to abandon diplomacy and use military force if required to secure the strategically vital shipping route.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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