Three Turkish Tankers Successfully Cross the Strait of Hormuz

Antalya (ANTARA) - Three crude oil tankers owned by Turkish companies have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely since the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran began at the end of February, said Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu. “As a result of the efforts we have undertaken together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish-owned vessel named Ocean Thunder, which was en route carrying crude oil from Iraq to Malaysia, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely since last night and completed its journey out of the Gulf,” he said, quoted by the Daily Sabah newspaper on Monday. Uraloglu added that Turkish authorities are continuously monitoring the situation in the region and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant institutions. He also stated that other ships owned by Turkish companies are still in the vicinity of the strait. Ongoing efforts are being made to ensure their evacuation can proceed safely. Several ships are still waiting for an opportunity to leave the area, while communication with the crew is maintained continuously. Previously, Turkish authorities stated that 15 ships owned by Turkish companies were in the Strait of Hormuz area, with various measures taken to minimise risks to shipping. On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched attacks on several targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties. Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory as well as US military facilities in the Middle East. The escalation around Iran has led to a de facto blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets, which has driven up energy prices.