US President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington has taken “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz and described the ongoing naval blockade as a “tremendous success”. However, according to TankerTrackers.com, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) operated by Iran’s National Iranian Tanker Company has reportedly evaded the US Navy and reached the Asia-Pacific carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil worth approximately $220 million.The ship, identified as “Massive”, was last seen near Sri Lanka a week ago and is now headed through Indonesia’s Lombok Strait towards the Riau Archipelago.In a post on“His name is Vishal (9357183), and we last saw him in Sri Lanka a week ago. She is currently transiting the Lombok Strait of Indonesia and heading towards the Riau Archipelago. As of now, Vishal has not broadcast on AIS since 2026-03-20 when she departed from the Strait of Malacca for Iran,” it said.The report comes as Iranian state media claims that at least 52 Iranian ships breached the US-imposed blockade within a 72-hour period. According to Fars News Agency, the ships included 31 oil tankers and 21 cargo ships.However, the US military says it has intercepted or forced about 41 ships linked to Iran since the blockade began, Al Jazeera reports.Despite the alleged violations, US officials insist the blockade is working, claiming it has cost Tehran billions in lost revenue and severely limited its ability to export oil. Washington also argued that Iran could soon be forced to store excess oil until capacity is reached, potentially halting production.Early last month, data from maritime tracking firm Vortexa showed that at least 34 tankers belonging to Iran had managed to bypass the US naval blockade. Of these, 19 left the gulf while 15 entered, indicating continued movement of ships despite the increased restrictions.The United States has redirected 48 ships to the Persian Gulf region over the past 20 days as part of its efforts to enforce sanctions on Iranian maritime activity, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.The US has clarified that its blockade targets Iranian ports and coastline, not the Strait of Hormuz. The US has also warned shipping companies that they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.An alert from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said such payments could include not only cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including charitable donations or embassy payments.Iran had previously restricted movement in the strait after the conflict began on February 28, later offering alternative routes near its coastline in exchange for a fee.The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global bottleneck, handling about one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas trade. The US blockade, imposed on April 13 and later expanded, is part of a broader effort to pressure Iran economically and strategically, even as maritime tensions and diplomatic efforts continue in parallel.
