Iranian oil tankers sail again

TT

Updated 08.06 | Published 05.37

           

           

          Tanker and cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

          1 / 2Photo: AP/TT

Tankers loaded with oil have been able to leave Iran for the first time since the US established a naval blockade against the country.

At least three ships have passed the zone that has been guarded by the US Navy, according to a monitor.

The declaration of intent that the US and Iran have entered into – which should eventually lead to peace – means, according to various leaks, that Iran is allowed to resume its oil exports immediately.

This also appears to be the case, as the three tankers have been allowed to leave port and sail on. They passed the area in the Persian Gulf where the US had established a blockade, reported the maritime traffic monitor Tankertrackers during the night to Wednesday.

The ships are said to be carrying a total of 4.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.

Return to the status quo?

When the first agreement was announced earlier this week, US President Donald Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to traffic.

The strait is the entrance to the Persian Gulf – and a bottleneck for a large part of the world's oil exports. Since the outbreak of war, Iran has warned and attacked ships that have tried to pass through, which has stopped traffic and shaken the entire world economy with skyrocketing energy prices.

The parties do not seem to fully agree on how traffic there should be regulated in the future, as Iran claims that the country should be allowed to charge fees.

In practice, Iran has deterred all traffic with simple means – drones and naval mines – which the country is said to have the option of continuing to do if the declaration of intent collapses.

European countries, led by France and Britain, say they are prepared to secure shipping in the strait in a military operation.

Israeli attacks cause friction

The memorandum of understanding is to be signed by US and Iranian representatives in Switzerland on Friday, but the wording is still being kept secret. Iran has outlined several conditions and described them as concessions from the US, which the US has rejected or rephrased.

Several major issues – notably Iran’s nuclear energy and Israel’s warfare in Lebanon – are still up in the air. The thorny nuclear energy issue is to be negotiated during the upcoming 60-day ceasefire.

Iran and Lebanon also interpret the agreement as Israel withdrawing its military from southern Lebanon, but Israel says it will remain there.

On Tuesday, continued Israeli attacks on communities there were reported. Iran’s military issued an alarm about 80 Israeli violations of a perceived ceasefire – with a warning that it could receive a “forceful military response”.