Saudi Oil Tankers Transit Hormuz Strait Amid US-Iran Agreement

On June 18, 2026, three large Saudi oil tankers departed the Gulf through the Hormuz Strait, according to maritime trackers. This movement follows a commitment by leaders to reopen the route as part of an agreement to end the US-Iran conflict. Traffic through the strait had been largely halted for three and a half months due to the conflict, but there has been a slight increase in activity. As of 1430 GMT, maritime data firm Kpler reported that eight commodity ships had transited the strait on that day, matching the average daily volume from the previous week. Among the vessels were three very large crude carriers (VLCCs), each carrying two million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia. However, the number of crossings remains significantly lower than the pre-war average of 120 transits per day, as noted by Lloyd's List. Additionally, the liquefied natural gas vessel Mraikh, the first French LNG carrier to transit since the conflict began on February 28, was also reported to be among the ships. Despite the agreement, Jakob Larsen, chief security officer at BIMCO, highlighted ongoing safety and security risks, noting that the central part of the Strait is mined and un-navigable. He mentioned that the agreement lacks specific details on clearing ships from the Gulf but anticipates the establishment of an international coordination body to facilitate transits. The International Maritime Organization reported that over 500 commercial vessels remain stranded in the Gulf, affecting approximately 20,000 seafarers in the region.