Iranian Supertanker Defies US Blockade by Transiting Strait of Hormuz

An Iranian supertanker, capable of carrying two million barrels of oil, has successfully navigated through the US maritime blockade in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, which is on international sanctions lists, reportedly crossed the open sea and the strait with its location-tracking system activated and entered Iranian territorial waters.

Following this transit, reports indicated that another vessel—a bulk carrier transporting food supplies—also passed through the strait en route to the port of Imam Khomeini. This movement comes shortly after a China-linked tanker named Rich Starry was reported to have made a similar passage.

Despite these crossings, US Central Command chief Brad Cooper has asserted that American forces have completely halted maritime trade flowing into and out of Iran. This claim appears to be contradicted by other reports stating that over 20 commercial vessels transited the strait within the first 24 hours of the blockade's implementation.

The United States announced the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following an initial round of talks with Iran last weekend. Tehran stated that the sides failed to reach agreement on several key issues. Washington insists these points include demands for Iran to relinquish its stockpiles of enriched uranium.

The blockade officially took effect on Monday evening. President Donald Trump warned that US military forces would stop any vessels attempting to use this route and instructed authorities to track and intercept ships that have made payments to Iran for passage.