Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since a U.S. blockade came into force, the tracking firm Kpler told AFP on Friday (April 17, 2026).

The Deep Sea, Sonia I and Diona, all under U.S. sanctions, passed the strategic strait on Wednesday (April 15, 2026) after leaving Iran’s Kharg Island, having loaded on April 2, 8 and 9 respectively, according to the maritime data company.