Three Ships Sail Past U.S. Naval Blockade, Iran Claims

Three Iranian oil tankers and two cargo ships have sailed past the US naval blockade, a day after the Iran-U.S memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the 3-month war was finalized.

The vessels, which had been stranded for months amid the American blockade of Iranian ports, sailed through international waters unimpeded,  Press TV reported.

The secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) early on Monday confirmed that Tehran and Washington have finalized the text of an MoU on ending the war, bringing an immediate and permanent halt to US-Israeli hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and terminating the US naval blockade against Iran.

“Based on the approval of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the text of the memorandum of understanding regarding the end-of-war negotiations between Iran and the United States was finalized on the evening of June 15,” the statement read.

“Under the agreements reached, the war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, are ended immediately and permanently. Furthermore, the naval blockade against Iran is terminated immediately and completely.”

The SNSC secretariat added that the MoU will be officially signed on Friday, June 19.

Talks toward a final agreement will be postponed until after the other side has implemented its commitments under the memorandum, the secretariat said.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the first round of negotiations with the US aimed at resolving outstanding disputes will take place immediately after the signing of an MoU in Geneva, which permanently ends the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.