11 Iranian Tankers Break US Blockade Following Peace Agreement

A total of 11 Iranian tankers have so far managed to break through the United States naval blockade, following a peace agreement reached between Tehran and Washington. According to Iran’s Press TV on Thursday (18/6/2026), a source within the Iranian government familiar with the information told the outlet that 8 vessels successfully sailed through international waters from Iran’s territorial waters, and 3 other vessels managed to enter Iranian waters after the US blockade was lifted under the Iran-US agreement. The US imposed a naval blockade on Iran in April, amid negotiations to halt the war between the two countries. On Wednesday (17/6) evening local time, US President Donald Trump announced he had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a peace agreement with Iran. He signed the MoU document at the Palace of Versailles, France, witnessed by President Emmanuel Macron. The MoU serves as an entry point to the actual US-Iran peace negotiations, which will take place over a 60-day period. The negotiations will address crucial issues, namely Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, as well as other sensitive matters. The Iranian government also confirmed it had signed the agreement document to end the war with the US. “The text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has been finalised with the presidents’ signatures – now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, as quoted by the Iranian news agency IRNA. He stated the signing was carried out electronically and remotely by both presidents, and that an official ceremony “does not have much place” in Iran’s plans. Previously, the Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) on Monday confirmed that Tehran and Washington had finalised the text of the MoU on ending the war, which would immediately and permanently halt hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and end the US naval blockade against Iran. “Based on the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, the text of the memorandum of understanding regarding the cessation of war negotiations between Iran and the United States was finalised on the evening of 15 June,” the SNSC statement read. “Under the agreement reached, war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, are ended immediately and permanently. Furthermore, the naval blockade against Iran is ended immediately and completely,” it added.