Chinese Tanker Sanctioned By U.S Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Despite U.S Naval Blockade

A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the U.S crossed the Hormuz Strait on Tuesday despite the U.S naval blockade and became the first to exit the strategic waterway since the blockade began, MarineTraffic and Kpler showed.

The United States sanctioned the Rich Starry, owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd, for dealing with Iran.

The medium-range tanker with an all-Chinese crew is carrying 250,000 barrels of methanol, which it loaded from the UAE’s Hamriyah.

The U.S military began the blockade of Iranian ports on Monday, which has heightened the tensions in the region, although hopes of negotiations to end the war remain, prviving much needed relief to oil markets as benchmark prices fell below $100 on Tuesday.

After talks between the U.S and Iranian delegations broke down in Pakistan, a U.S official said that there was continued engagement and efforts to reach an agreement.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said efforts were underway to resolve the conflict.

U.S President Donald Trump said that Tehran is open to negotiation, but he won’t sanction anything which enables Iran to have nuclear weapons.

Since the advent of the U.S.-Iran war, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to all ships except its own, stating that passage would be allowed only under Iranian control and would be subject to a fee.

Trump said that the U.S. would now prevent Iranian vessels from freely transiting the waterway, and any Iranian ships close to the area blocked by the U.S. Naval fleet will be eliminated.

In response, Iran has threatened to strike naval ships in the Strait and also the port facilities of its neighbours.