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An Iranian supertanker successfully reached domestic waters on Wednesday after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to local media, defying U.S. blockade threats.
According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the crude carrier, which it said can transport around 2 million barrels of oil, sailed through international waters and the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking system activated and “without any concealment.”
There was no immediate comment from U.S. authorities on the report.
The report came after the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that American forces have “completely halted” maritime trade to and from Iran.
“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.
CENTCOM began enforcing a blockade Monday on maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
The command said the blockade is being “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
At the same time, CENTCOM said it would not impede freedom of navigation for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Earlier Tuesday, CENTCOM said no ships had breached the blockade during its first 24 hours and that six merchant vessels had complied with U.S. orders to turn back toward Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a U.S. official, reported that American naval forces had intercepted eight oil tankers entering or leaving Iranian ports since the blockade began.
The blockade followed rare direct U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan over the weekend aimed at ending the war that began on Feb. 28, but the negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
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