Supertankers Return To Hormuz After Iran–US Agreement As Israeli Strikes In Lebanon Undermine Ceasefire Optimism
Supertankers resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran–US agreement, while Israeli strikes in Lebanon undermine ceasefire optimism.
Supertankers resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran–US agreement, while Israeli strikes in Lebanon undermine ceasefire optimism.
Three Saudi-flagged crude carriers transporting roughly six million barrels of oil crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, just hours after Washington and Tehran formally activated a new agreement aimed at ending months of conflict that had severely disrupted global energy flows.
The movement of vessels came shortly after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a “memorandum of understanding” intended to de-escalate tensions and restore maritime access through the strategic waterway.
The deal, which also includes provisions for reopening Iranian ports and easing restrictions on shipping activity, is expected to be implemented over a 60-day transition period toward a broader settlement.
Early signs of improved maritime confidence were visible, with commercial ships beginning to transmit location signals again after weeks of heightened security concerns that had prompted many operators to obscure their positions.
Global oil markets reacted quickly, with Brent crude futures sliding by about 2%, dropping below $78 per barrel ,their lowest level since the conflict escalated.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, uncertainty persists in the wider region. In Lebanon, Israeli forces carried out renewed air and artillery strikes on Thursday morning, including operations in the south where at least one civilian was reported killed. The fresh escalation has cast doubt on the durability of the US brokered understanding and whether it can contain parallel fronts linked to the wider conflict.
The agreement, reached after months of negotiations and signed earlier this week, also references broader regional security arrangements, including provisions calling for stability in Lebanon and respect for its territorial sovereignty. However, Israel was not directly included in the final negotiation process, fueling tensions over its continued military presence in southern Lebanese territory.
Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, said discussions with Washington are ongoing over troop deployments near the Litani River, which Israel considers a strategic buffer zone against Hezbollah activity. One official suggested the outcome may depend on whether Washington applies pressure on its allies to comply fully with the ceasefire framework.
On the ground in Lebanon, fighting has eased in some areas since the announcement of the deal, but sporadic violence has continued. Residents in the south described ongoing fear and uncertainty, with displaced civilians questioning whether the agreement represents a lasting peace or another temporary pause in hostilities.
Political reactions in Israel have been mixed, with some officials warning that the US deal could limit military flexibility at a sensitive moment in the campaign. Analysts say the agreement has exposed growing differences between Washington and Jerusalem over the future conduct of the war.
As shipping activity cautiously resumes in the Gulf, and diplomatic talks continue behind the scenes, the region remains on edge with both the success of the Iran–US accord and the stability of Lebanon’s fragile front still hanging in the balance.
