US lifts naval blockade of Iran as peace deal kicks in

DUBAI — The interim peace deal between Iran and the United States took effect and shipping started returning to the Strait of Hormuz as Washington declared an end to its blockade of Iranian ports on Thursday.The US Central Command confirmed the end of the blockade “in accordance with the President’s direction”, but said some US vessels would remain “in the general area”.US Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that the 60-day clock for working out the contentious details in the so-called memorandum of understanding signed late Wednesday had started ticking.Vance said the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of the agreement to end the war.Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night.Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that shipping has “normalized” at Iran’s southern ports but added that the Strait of Hormuz remains supervised and under the control of the Iranian military and transiting through the vital waterway still requires coordination.Major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence — though they did not give data on how many ships have passed through the strait as of Thursday.In a media briefing, Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, said for the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February.Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. And two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned, sanctioned crude oil tankers have entered the strait, according to Lloyd’s List.Phillip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for global independent tanker owners, said the main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and has an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared.But ships have been passing through the smaller Northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the Southern route, which goes through Omani waters.