At least two US-sanctioned, Iran-linked ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf on Thursday, prompting a possible change in transit routes, while the US naval blockade entered its third day.Shipowners and traders are closely monitoring activities through the strategic waterway, with only a limited number of ships attempting the crossing amid tight scrutiny by both the US and Iranian forces. Crews now require clearance from two navies, significantly slowing traffic through one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Unusual routes, limited crossings amid strict enforcement
The LPG carrier Ji Samar and the much larger crude carrier Hong Lu passed through a narrow passage between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands before entering the Gulf, according to ship-tracking data cited by Bloomberg.Both ships have been blacklisted by Washington due to their links to Iran and were sailing empty.Their route through Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and the coastline of Iran was described as unusually circuitous. Other ships, including the bulk carrier Rosalina carrying food and the tanker Nobler, also followed a similar path, suggesting navigation strategies evolved to avoid collisions.Despite these activities, total traffic remains well below pre-war levels. Only a few ships have crossed since the blockade began, compared to an average of about 135 daily transits before the conflict, Bloomberg reports. No fully loaded Iranian oil tankers were seen leaving the strait, putting wartime flows of about 1.7 million barrels per day at risk.
Conflicting claims as tensions persist
US Central Command has said that no ships have successfully broken its blockade, adding that ships attempting to transit have been turned back.However, Iran has claimed that one of its oil tankers managed to pass through, highlighting conflicting narratives around enforcement. According to Bloomberg, Tehran is probably referring to the abandoned ship Alicia, which is under US sanctions, which entered the region and passed Iran’s Larak Island on Wednesday, hours before Hong Lu.The situation is further complicated by electronic interference and ships turning off tracking systems, meaning not all activity is visible.The maritime standoff comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Iran has warned of “dangerous consequences” from US actions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the blockade could worsen an already fragile situation.Tehran has also signaled it will not back down, with senior officials insisting that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a key strategic lever. The waterway, which carries about a fifth of global oil supplies, remains at the center of conflicts, raising concerns over global energy flows and trade stability.
