Italy Plans Embassy Reopening in Tehran on Friday Amid Iran Tensions
Amid Iran tensions three Iranian tankers carrying 3.8 million barrels of crude oil have passed the US blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, signaling Iran's confidence that the blockade is effectively over even as the US says it remains in place until a deal is signed on Friday.
Iranian Tankers Cross US Blockade Line
The three tankers, Diona, Hero II and Sonia I, are owned by the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company and left Iran's Chabahar port on Tuesday, crossing the blockade line into the Arabian Sea. [2] Two were broadcasting their locations as they crossed and a third appeared to switch on its location tracker just past the line. [2] Maritime intelligence firm Windward says this is the first time any of these Iranian tankers have broadcast their locations since March and, if they make it to their destination, will be Iran's first oil exports for two months, according to TankerTrackers.com. [2] The three ships are carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of crude oil, according to TankerTrackers.com. [2] Data from MarineTraffic shows Hero II and Sonia I left Iran's Chabahar port on Tuesday, where several other Iranian tankers are currently anchored, and sailed past the US blockade line into the Arabian Sea in the early hours of Wednesday morning. [2] Diona began broadcasting its location just past the US blockade line, which stretches from the eastern tip of Oman to the coast of Iran, yesterday. [2] They are currently not broadcasting their planned destinations. [2]
Context of the US Blockade and Pending Deal
Despite President Donald Trump announcing on Sunday the "immediate removal" of the blockade of Iranian ports, US naval forces later confirmed it would remain in effect until the deal with Iran was signed. [2] This is expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday. [2] "This a sign that Iran is confident the blockade is over, even if the US has insisted it will be in place until Friday," Michelle Wiese Bockman, senior analyst at Windward Maritime Intelligence, told BBC Verify. [2] The US blockade has cut Iran's crude exports to the lowest amount in six years at 260,000 barrels per day in May, less than a fifth of the 2025 average of 1.67 million barrels per day, data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler shows. [2]
Diplomatic Moves and Regional Tensions Amid Iran Tensions
Italy is scheduled to reopen its embassy in Tehran on Friday, following months of closure amid regional tensions. [1] Reopening follows months of closure amid regional tensions, Foreign Minister says. [1] Despite the agreement with Iran, President Trump has not ruled out future strikes on Iran. [3] The G7 is looking to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. [4] Despite agreement, G7 looks to decrease Strait of Hormuz reliance. [4] Trump doesn't rule out strikes on Iran despite agreement, looks to support Ukraine. [3]
Background on Sanctions and Previous Incidents
Iran has been subject to long-term US sanctions in response to fears the country is developing nuclear weapons, its support for groups designated by Washington as terrorist organisations, and alleged human rights abuses. [2] The three Iran-flagged tankers, Diona, Hero II and Sonia I, are all owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company which has been sanctioned by the US Treasury, as have the ships themselves. [2] The sanctioned tanker Tifani was previously intercepted by the US more than 10 days after leaving the Gulf. [2] The US had said early in its blockade that enforcement could happen outside of the Gulf region and BBC Verify has previously covered American forces intercepting Iran-linked vessels in the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles from the Gulf. [2]
Broader Maritime Activity by Iranian Vessels
Another crude oil tanker owned by NITC, Stream, stopped broadcasting its location just before the US blockade line and appears to be sailing towards Iran. [2] The unladen tanker has been circling off the Pakistani port of Karachi since 8 May, ship tracking data shows. [2] Since the announcement of the US deal with Iran, "Iranian-linked tankers and cargo ships have become noticeably more active globally," according to the campaign and monitoring group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). [2] Two other crude oil tankers owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company also began broadcasting their positions in the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia on Tuesday. [2] Both tankers, Dan and Sinopa, had not been seen on publicly available ship tracking platforms since early April and now appear to be sailing towards Iran. [2] "Iran is wasting no time getting its tankers back into circulation," said Bockman. [2]
What to watch next: Italy plans to reopen its embassy in Tehran on Friday after months of closure amid regional tensions while the deal with Iran is expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
