Iran has exported more than 40mn barrels of crude oil since the United States lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports under a temporary peace agreement signed on June 17, Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said, adding that Iranian crude was now selling at prices around 20% higher than before the war.

The United States and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end nearly four months of conflict that began in late February, lift the US naval blockade, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch a 60-day negotiating process aimed at reaching a permanent peace agreement.

Speaking to Iranian state TV on June 30, Ghalibaf said Iran had been unable to export any crude while the US blockade, imposed in mid-April, remained in force, but shipments had picked up rapidly once the restrictions were removed.

“From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40mn barrels of oil. Compare that with the previous 50 to 60 days, when we did not export even a single barrel of oil,” he said.

Washington imposed the naval blockade on Iranian ports and vessels linked to the country in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean in an effort to mount pressure on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which it had shut in early March and prevent its crude exports.

Ghalibaf described the blockade as “the most severe form of war” and said its removal was “one of the great achievements” of the agreement with the US. He said the blockade had effectively targeted “the people’s livelihood.”

Rejecting criticism that sanctions relief under the agreement amounted to an “empty promise,” Ghalibaf said the measures were already taking effect.

“Iranian oil is being sold 20% more expensively and the money is being deposited into our accounts,” he said.

Under the interim agreement, the United States is required, during the negotiating period, to end the war on all fronts, issue waivers for exports of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, together with all associated services, including banking transactions, insurance, and transportation, and release Iran’s frozen assets.

Ship monitoring service TankerTrackers.com said on July 1 that Iran had exported about 50mn barrels of crude during the two weeks since the US lifted the blockade on the country’s energy exports.

“This equates to 1.66mn barrels per day for June 2026. Most other countries in the region are still nowhere near pre-war levels,” the firm wrote on X.

The company tracks tanker movements using satellite imagery, coastal photography and real-time Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at his weekly briefing on June 30 that sales of crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals had become “much easier” and that the US waiver envisaged under the memorandum was now being implemented.

Ghalibaf also said Tehran continued to prioritise diplomacy with Washington while remaining prepared for military confrontation.

“We are committed to implementing the memorandum and we are negotiating even now. If they fail to honour their commitments through dialogue, we are ready for war,” he said.

Referring to the recent exchanges of fire in the Persian Gulf, Ghalibaf said: “We regard the incidents taking place in the Persian Gulf over recent nights as a violation of the ceasefire memorandum. We will certainly respond, and naturally the other side will respond as well.”

The two sides briefly traded fire over the weekend after Iran attacked two vessels transiting the strategic waterway.

Limited shipping has now resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, although Iranian officials continue to insist that Iran and Oman hold authority over traffic management and intend to introduce transit service charges from mid-August after the 60-day negotiating period expires.

“Sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman, and navigation through the strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran,” Ghalibaf said.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched military action against the country on February 28. The conduit normally carries around 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, and its closure pushed oil prices sharply higher.

Brent crude was trading near $73 a barrel on July 1, almost 40% below the wartime peak of $118 reached in April, as diplomatic progress and expectations of renewed supplies from the Persian Gulf weighed on prices.

US Vice President JD Vance has rejected the prospect of Iran charging transit fees, saying: “This is not going to end in a place where the Iranians are collecting tolls on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, I feel quite confident that we’re not gonna have a tolled Strait of Hormuz in the future.”