WANA (Jun 18) – Commercial shipping traffic to and from Iranian ports has officially returned to normal as of Monday, following the dismantling of a U.S. naval blockade at the entrance of the Sea of Oman, according to a top maritime official.

 

Masoud Polmeh, the Secretary-General of the Association of Shipping and Allied Services of Iran, detailed the breakthrough in a recent interview, charting the rapid stabilization of the country’s southern and northern maritime corridors.

 

Timeline of the Blockade’s Lift

According to Polmeh, the maritime restrictions collapsed over a rapid 48-hour window over the weekend:

 

  • Saturday: The U.S.-enforced blockade line at the entrance of the Sea of Oman—which had been disrupting traffic destined for Iran—was officially dismantled.
  • Sunday: Restrictions on Iranian commercial vessels were fully lifted, clearing the legal and physical hurdles for entry and exit.
  • Monday: Normal operations resumed. Iranian crude oil tankers successfully crossed the former blockade zone toward international destinations, while ships carrying essential goods docked at domestic ports.

 

“The lifting of restrictions did not mean an instantaneous jump in cargo operations, but it meant the immediate removal of barriers for ships entering or leaving Iranian waters,” Polmeh clarified.

 

Fleet Traffic and Cargo Volume

While exact total traffic figures remain fluid due to ongoing security precautions by international liners, Polmeh confirmed significant initial movements:

 

Inbound Bulk Carriers: Three large vessels, each carrying over 60,000 tons of essential goods and grains, have successfully docked.

 

Outbound Crude Tankers: Two supertankers, each loaded with approximately 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, safely navigated out of the region.

 

Regional Traffic: Non-Iranian vessels belonging to neighboring countries in the southern Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman have also resumed seamless transit.

 

Container Shipping: Previously stranded Iranian container ships are currently en route to domestic ports, while a new fleet is preparing to depart for major international cargo hubs.

 

Despite the normalization, Polmeh noted that the Strait of Hormuz remains under the strict surveillance of the Iranian Armed Forces, and all transiting vessels must continue to coordinate with relevant maritime authorities.

 

Northern Ports Unaffected; Southern Corridor Irreplaceable

While the southern waters faced disruptions, Iran’s Caspian Sea infrastructure remained highly active. Ports such as Amirabad, Nowshahr, Caspian, and Anzali continued round-the-clock operations for general cargo, bulk, and container shipping.

 

Addressing whether trade would now completely shift back to the south, Polmeh emphasized the irreplaceable scale of Iran’s southern coast.

 

The 15% Cap: Estimates show that a maximum of only 15% of the southern ports’ maritime volume can be diverted to rail, road, or northern shipping lanes.

 

Strategic Takeaway: Polmeh urged the government to continue investing in northern infrastructure and overland logistics. “The experience of recent months proved we must not rely on a single corridor. We need to maintain and strengthen our alternative supply chains to ensure resilience in future crises.”

 

Political Catalyst Behind the Resolution

Polmeh attributed the rapid 12-hour collapse of the blockade to decisive political signaling from Tehran.

 

Following a formal warning issued by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament to the United States government, the dismantling of the maritime restrictions accelerated rapidly. Polmeh concluded that the swift resolution serves as a demonstration of Iran’s political leverage and authority in securing its strategic interests.