U.S. Lifts Blockade of Iran as Oil Tankers Began Freely Moving Through the Strait of Hormuz
The agreement extends a ceasefire and waives sanctions, allowing Iran to resume oil sales while both sides enter 60-day negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.
- On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, allowing tankers to resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz after months of disruption.
- The decision follows a memorandum of understanding signed late Wednesday by President Donald Trump and Iran, which extends a ceasefire and initiates a 60-day negotiating period for broader agreements.
- Vessels carrying nearly 10 million barrels of oil have navigated the strait, prompting Trump to post on Truth Social that "oil is flowing," while benchmark Brent crude slipped below $80 a barrel.
- According to an agreement published by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran will arrange commercial passage with "no charge for 60 days only," Vice President JD Vance noting regional countries must establish security frameworks.
- Sen. Roger Wicker warned that a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran "would make Iran's payoff under President Obama's 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison," even as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtab Khamenei endorsed negotiations.
85 Articles
85 Articles
Trump and Netanyahu have overplayed their hand
This is Dispatches with Patrick Cockburn, a subscriber-only newsletter from The i Paper. If you’d like to get this direct to your inbox, every single week, you can sign up here. Oil tankers are beginning to make their way nervously out of the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in 10 weeks under the terms of the US-Iran deal to end the war. At the same time, the US has ended its blockade of Iranian ports and suspended sanctions on Iranian oil. P…
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D24&w=64&q=75){kind=small}
The US has lifted the naval blockade of Iranian ports, the US Military Command for the Middle East (Centcom) confirms. Ending the naval blockade was one of the agreements signed by the US and Iran last night. The declaration of intent states, among other things, that US forces will no longer obstruct ships transiting to and from Iranian ports, and that the Strait of Hormuz must be opened immediately. Earlier today, the first Iranian ships were a…
CENTCOM Announces End of US Blockade on Iran
US Central Command announced on Thursday that the US military was lifting its blockade of Iranian ports in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to bring an end to the conflict between the two nations. "Today, US forces lifted the blockade…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources are Center
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D60&w=128&q=75)
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
