Tehran [Iran], April 15 (ANI): A sanctioned Iranian supertanker has reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz and is navigating toward Iran’s Imam Khomeini Port despite an active US blockade, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.
The vessel, identified as a Very Large Crude Carrier, is said to have the capacity to transport approximately two million barrels of crude oil. However, it remains unclear whether the tanker was carrying cargo or traveling empty.
Additional reports from Fars News Agency, citing ship-tracking data, claim that another vessel transporting food supplies has entered the Gulf and is en route to Imam Khomeini Port, as Iran seeks to maintain the flow of essential goods amid ongoing naval restrictions.
These reports of successful transit contrast with official statements from Washington. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday announced that a full blockade of Iran’s ports has been successfully implemented, with US forces asserting maritime dominance across key regional waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said that within 36 hours of initiating the blockade, US forces had effectively halted all maritime trade flowing in and out of Iran.
“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as US forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East. An estimated 90 percent of Iran’s economy is fueled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” the statement said.
CENTCOM, in a separate statement on X, said US Navy guided-missile destroyers are actively enforcing the blockade, targeting vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.
“A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 sailors who are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations,” the statement added.
Earlier, CENTCOM revealed that more than 10,000 US personnel, including sailors, Marines, and airmen, along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are involved in the blockade operation.
Providing a progress update, the command noted that within the first 24 hours, no ships breached the blockade, while six merchant vessels complied with US directives to turn back and re-enter an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.
The blockade extends across all Iranian ports along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with US forces maintaining strict enforcement measures.
CENTCOM further stated that while the blockade restricts access to Iranian ports, US forces continue to support freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
The development marks a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions, with potential implications for global trade and regional stability. (ANI)
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