Sanctioned Supertanker Crosses Hormuz Strait 'Without Disturbance' Despite US Blockade, Claims Iran

Last Updated:April 15, 2026, 14:59 IST

A sanctioned supertanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz openly despite a US blockade, Iranian media has claimed, calling it a challenge to Washington’s sanctions pressure.

A sanctioned Iranian supertanker successfully passed through the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite a US blockade, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported, describing the transit as a direct challenge to Washington’s sanctions and military pressure in the region.

According to the report, the vessel, identified as a very large crude carrier (VLCC) capable of transporting 2 million barrels of oil, entered Iranian waters “without any concealment and with its positioning device turned on," travelling across the open sea and through the Strait of Hormuz openly.

The agency said the tanker, which is on the US sanctions list, maintained active positioning signals throughout its journey.

“This supertanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, by keeping its positioning system on, effectively challenged the sanctions and threats of the US terrorist army and reached its destination without the slightest disturbance," Fars reported.

The report framed the transit as symbolic resistance against US efforts to curb Iran’s oil trade amid ongoing tensions linked to the regional conflict.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ REMAINS KEY FLASHPOINT

The development comes as the Strait of Hormuz continues to serve as a focal point of geopolitical tension, with maritime movement through the vital waterway closely watched due to its central role in global energy supplies.

The showdown over the strategic Strait of Hormuz risks reigniting hostilities and deepening the regional war’s economic fallout.

The waterway is among the most critical oil transit chokepoints globally, and disruptions there have already rattled markets and raised concerns over supply stability.

Since the conflict began, maritime traffic has been affected, with many commercial vessels avoiding the route amid heightened security concerns.

Tehran’s actions around the strait have had far-reaching implications, as roughly a fifth of global oil shipments typically pass through the route in peacetime, amplifying the stakes of any confrontation in the area.

US SAYS BLOCKADE REMAINS IN EFFECT

Even as Fars highlighted the reported transit of the sanctioned tanker, the US military has maintained that its blockade of Iranian ports remains operational.

The US military said its blockade was in full effect as tensions persist, with Washington aiming to pressure Tehran economically and strategically.

The blockade is intended to restrict Iran’s oil exports, which have continued despite sanctions.

US Central Command said that no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours after it was imposed.

Six merchant vessels complied with directions from US forces and turned back toward Iranian waters.

However, it was also known that one vessel reversed course again and transited the waterway.

The blockade is part of a US strategy to constrain Iran’s oil trade, which has continued through methods including so-called “dark transits" that evade monitoring and oversight mechanisms, according to AP.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE AMID CONFLICT

The developments at sea come as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, with signs that talks between Washington and Tehran could resume.

Donald Trump said a second round of negotiations could take place “over the next two days," possibly in Islamabad, as backchannel discussions continue.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it is “highly probable" that talks would restart following discussions with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The conflict has already had wide-ranging economic consequences, shaking global markets and affecting shipping flows through the Gulf.

The war, now in its seventh week, has disrupted trade routes and damaged infrastructure across the region, underscoring the high stakes surrounding developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

The war has also resulted in significant casualties across multiple countries.

AP reported that the fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been reportedly killed.

News world Sanctioned Supertanker Crosses Hormuz Strait 'Without Disturbance' Despite US Blockade, Claims Iran

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