Three tankers on the US sanctions list passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Today, on the first full day of the US Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, announced by Trump on April 13, three tankers have already transited this sea route. All are on US sanctions lists for their ties to Iran. The blockade, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), took effect yesterday at 10:00 a.m. ET (17:00 p.m. Moscow time).
The first vessel to defy the American blockade was the Malawi-flagged Rich Starry, a tanker owned by the Chinese company Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd. However, the vessel did not succeed on its first attempt. The first attempt occurred on Monday, April 13, at midday. The tanker briefly turned around and returned to the Iranian island of Qeshm. A new attempt was made that evening, and by early Tuesday morning, the vessel, carrying 250 barrels of methanol loaded at the port of Hamriyah in the UAE, had passed through Hormuz.
Two more vessels passed through the strait today: the Panamanian-flagged Peace Gulf, a tanker typically used to transport oil and petroleum products, and the Murlikishan, which was headed to Iraq to refuel with fuel oil. Both vessels are subject to US sanctions. The Murlikishan previously carried Russian and Iranian oil.
Trump announced a complete closure of Hormuz, but CENTCOM moderated this maximalist statement. US Central Command clarified on Sunday that only vessels bound for and from Iranian ports were being blocked. Of the three tankers mentioned above, only the Chinese vessel is subject to this restriction.
Tehran called the blockade an act of piracy and promised that if Iranian ports were closed, no one would have safe ports in the Persian Gulf. China demanded an end to the US's "illegal unilateral actions" and guaranteed freedom of navigation, and convened consultations. At the same time, it escorted a vessel through the strait to reinforce its point.
Russia and China, together in the UN Security Council, blocked a resolution that would have legitimized the US actions on April 6. The European Union called for dialogue. fleet, without mechanisms, with concern. The UN administration expressed "deep concern." This is the fourth such concern this month alone. First, regarding the Iranian blockade of Hormuz, and now also regarding the American one.
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