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At least two U.S.-sanctioned vessels linked to Iran entered the Gulf on Thursday through what appeared to be an alternative route near Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands, as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained sharply reduced on the third day of a U.S. blockade.
Ship-tracking data showed the liquefied petroleum gas carrier G Summer and giant crude carrier Hong Lu, also known as RHN, entered the Gulf after departing from the United Arab Emirates, sailing close to Iran’s coastline before transiting Hormuz via an unusual route.
The G Summer, sailing empty, was broadcasting Chinese ownership and crew details and listed Iraq’s Khor al-Zubair as its destination.
Hong Lu, also empty and sanctioned by Washington over alleged links to Iran, followed shortly afterward. The tanker, capable of carrying up to 2 million barrels of crude, was later seen sailing west along Iran’s coast while indicating it was awaiting orders.
Bulk carrier Rosalina also appeared to use the same route earlier while signaling it was carrying food cargo bound for an Iranian port.
Outbound traffic from the Gulf also continued in limited form.
Two Iran-linked container ships, Golbon and Kashan, were observed leaving the Gulf on Wednesday, while a small products tanker, Nobler, exited eastward into the Gulf of Oman.
Despite the continued movement, traffic through Hormuz has slowed sharply.
No fully loaded Iranian crude tankers were seen departing through the strait, threatening wartime export flows estimated at around 1.7 million barrels per day, though electronic interference and “dark fleet” practices may obscure some voyages.
U.S. Central Command said Thursday that 10 vessels had been turned around since the blockade began Monday and that no ships had broken through.
Iran, however, has disputed that assessment.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported Wednesday that an Iranian supertanker subject to U.S. sanctions crossed the strait toward Imam Khomeini port despite the blockade, though it did not identify the vessel.
The report may have referred to the sanctioned tanker Alicia, which ship-tracking data showed entering the Gulf on Wednesday.
The United States imposed the naval blockade on Iranian ports after direct talks between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan over the weekend failed to produce an agreement to end the war that began on Feb. 28.
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