Iranian Tanker Ship Can Enter Gulf via Strait of Hormuz Despite US Blockade

An Iranian supertanker under American sanctions has entered Gulf waters via the Strait of Hormuz, despite a naval blockade imposed by the US military on ships visiting Tehran’s ports in recent weeks. The movement of the Iranian supertanker, as reported by Reuters on Friday (17 April 2026), was tracked by shipping data from LSEG and Kpler in the area. It is the second Iranian supertanker to successfully enter Gulf waters by passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a focal point of the US-Iran dispute. US President Donald Trump announced the military blockade in the area on Sunday (12 April), following peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran held in Islamabad over the weekend that ended without any agreement. The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, announced via social media platform X that at least 10 ships had been forced to turn back and no ships had breached the blockade since it began on Monday (13 April) local time. However, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday (15 April) that an Iranian supertanker under US sanctions had passed through the Strait of Hormuz heading to Imam Khomeini port in Iranian territory, despite the naval blockade. Fars News Agency did not identify the supertanker or provide further details about its voyage. Data from LSEG and Kpler show that a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) named RHN, which was empty or not carrying cargo, entered Gulf waters on (15 April) local time. It is unclear where the VLCC, capable of carrying two million barrels of oil, is heading. The entry of the VLCC RHN into Gulf waters occurred a day after another Iranian supertanker, the VLCC Alicia, also under US sanctions, sailed across the Strait of Hormuz. According to Kpler data, the VLCC Alicia was heading to Iraq. Both supertankers, based on Kpler data, have histories of transporting Iranian oil in recent years. Ships turned back due to the US blockade include the tanker Rich Starry, also under Washington sanctions, which returned to Gulf waters on Wednesday (15 April), a day after leaving them. Iran, according to sources informed by Tehran, may consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack, as part of a proposal offered in negotiations with the US, provided an agreement is reached to prevent new conflicts.