Dozens of Ships Head Through Strait of Hormuz After US‑Iran Deal

At least 172 vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending the war, including 42 ships on Saturday alone, according to new maritime data from Kpler.

The number of crossings since June 18, the day after the deal, is still well below the pre‑conflict average of around 138 per day.

Analysis by BBC Verify shows more than 200 tankers waiting inside the strait on Tuesday, with at least ten ships moving west into the Gulf so far.

Brent crude has fallen to its lowest price since the war began, reflecting increased supply.

Many tankers that have transited recently are linked to Iran, following the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade that was part of the deal. At least 30 tankers have left the Gulf carrying Iranian oil and petrochemicals since the agreement, according to Jemima Shelley of United Against Nuclear Iran.

The U.S. Treasury issued a license allowing the sale of Iranian crude, petrochemicals, and other products until 21 August. On Monday, five sanctioned tankers moved through the strait carrying up to four million barrels of oil.

Martin Kelly of EOS Risk Group said there is also an increase in normal trade. Four LNG tankers headed for Qatar, and at least three other tankers and cargo vessels left the Gulf on Tuesday.

All these movements used the Iranian‑approved northern route, not the U.S.‑recommended southern corridor near Oman.

Ship‑tracking data also shows more than 250 tankers and 440 cargo ships still inside the Gulf, with over 80% stationary or at anchor and about one in six carrying cargo.

The U.S. and Gulf allies reject Iranian efforts to control the strait; the deal commits Iran to use its best efforts to secure safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days, and to work with Oman on future administration and maritime services.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) issued terms for transit, stating no vessel may pass without a valid permit. The PGSA is sanctioned by the U.S., deterring some ship owners from applying for permits.

Conflicting messages from Iranian officials added uncertainty: the IRGC closed the strait on Saturday in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, yet some traffic persisted. On Tuesday, the Tehran ambassador to the U.N. said the strait was open, but a military source warned the daily transits would be capped.

Sea‑mines in the central shipping lane remain a concern. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has warned ships to avoid the middle of the strait, citing mines, and recommends a narrower southern route close to Oman.

JMIC has issued coordinates for two mines and is actively clearing them. Some tankers passed the southern corridor late last week, but when the strait closed again on June 20 the flow stalled. It has resumed only gradually.

At least four tankers appear transiting via the southern route on Tuesday, including a Norway‑flagged ship bound for Singapore and a Liberia‑flagged one heading to Taiwan.

Additional reporting by Ghoncheh Habibiazad, BBC Persian