A tanker that has been sanctioned by the United States passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as indicated by shipping data from LSEG, thereby testing the US naval blockade.
The tanker, named Rich Starry, is owned by a Chinese company and has a crew from China, as reported by Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported that this medium-range tanker, previously known as Full Star, was placed on Washingtonās blacklist in 2023 for its role in assisting Tehran in evading energy sanctions.
It remains unclear whether the tanker visited Iranian ports prior to its transit or if it was carrying any cargo.
The report further stated, āThis departure from the Persian Gulf marks the second attempt for the vessel in under 24 hours. Just as the blockade was implemented, Rich Starry was navigating towards the narrow waterway near Iranās Qeshm Island but turned back ā only to resume its exit a few hours later, indicating that it has a Chinese owner and crew.
āThis is a safety protocol commonly employed by vessels, yet it will test the USās determination to confront ships associated with the worldās largest oil importer.ā
The noted that the global shipping industry and energy traders have been on high alert since Trump announced a naval blockade of Iran, which commenced on Monday, prompting them to scramble for clarity on the specifics.
Bloomberg further added that most individuals in the Middle East and Asia indicated that they would delay their actions until they could fully comprehend the details of the US blockade, intended to restrict Iranās capacity to sell its oil, was clear.
Iran: US-sanctioned tanker passes through Strait of Hormuz
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