Middle East War News: Stimulated by War, EU Plans to Cut Electricity Tax to Accelerate Energy Transition (Wait, wrong title, let's fix) US Blockades Iranian Ports, Sanctioned Supertankers Still Enter Persian Gulf
Despite the US blockade, sanctioned Iranian supertankers successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf. The US attempts to use secondary sanctions as leverage for negotiations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 15:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 16:01 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 03:02 (59h 0m after Collected)
Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(CNA Singapore 16th, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) Shipping data shows that despite the blockade imposed by the United States on ships entering Iranian ports, a second US-sanctioned supertanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf.
According to Reuters and AFP, US President Trump announced the blockade measure on the 12th after weekend peace talks between the United States and Iran in the Pakistani capital Islamabad failed to reach an agreement.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on the X platform: "Since the US launched the blockade on Monday, 10 vessels have been ordered to turn back, and no vessel has successfully run the blockade."
Earlier, CENTCOM announced the number of turned-back vessels was 9, but later added a 10th, stating this vessel was "redirected" back to Iran by a US guided-missile destroyer.
Nevertheless, Iran's Fars News Agency reported today that a US-sanctioned Iranian supertanker ignored the blockade, crossed the strait, and headed for Imam Khomeini Port in Iran. Fars News Agency did not identify the name of the tanker nor provide further details of the voyage.
Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and maritime data provider Kpler showed that an unloaded Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) named RHN entered the Persian Gulf today. It is currently unclear where this tanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is heading.
The day before this tanker entered the Persian Gulf, another US-sanctioned VLCC named "Alicia" also passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data shows that the Alicia is heading to Iraq.
According to Kpler data, both tankers have a history of transporting Iranian oil over the past few years.
Vessels forced to turn around also include the US-sanctioned Chinese tanker "Rich Starry"; Rich Starry returned to the Persian Gulf today, one day after departing.
Just weeks after Washington relaxed its enforcement of some energy sanctions on Iran, the US has warned that it may impose secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil, an apparent move to gain leverage ahead of further negotiations.
A source briefed by Tehran revealed that, as part of proposing negotiations to the US, Iran might consider allowing vessels to navigate freely on the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without the risk of attack, provided both sides reach an agreement to prevent a resurgence of conflict. (Translated by: Li Pei-shan) 1150416
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Central News Agency
(CNA Singapore 16th, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) Shipping data shows that despite the blockade imposed by the United States on ships entering Iranian ports, a second US-sanctioned supertanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf.
According to Reuters and AFP, US President Trump announced the blockade measure on the 12th after weekend peace talks between the United States and Iran in the Pakistani capital Islamabad failed to reach an agreement.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on the X platform: "Since the US launched the blockade on Monday, 10 vessels have been ordered to turn back, and no vessel has successfully run the blockade."
Earlier, CENTCOM announced the number of turned-back vessels was 9, but later added a 10th, stating this vessel was "redirected" back to Iran by a US guided-missile destroyer.
Nevertheless, Iran's Fars News Agency reported today that a US-sanctioned Iranian supertanker ignored the blockade, crossed the strait, and headed for Imam Khomeini Port in Iran. Fars News Agency did not identify the name of the tanker nor provide further details of the voyage.
Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and maritime data provider Kpler showed that an unloaded Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) named RHN entered the Persian Gulf today. It is currently unclear where this tanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is heading.
The day before this tanker entered the Persian Gulf, another US-sanctioned VLCC named "Alicia" also passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data shows that the Alicia is heading to Iraq.
According to Kpler data, both tankers have a history of transporting Iranian oil over the past few years.
Vessels forced to turn around also include the US-sanctioned Chinese tanker "Rich Starry"; Rich Starry returned to the Persian Gulf today, one day after departing.
Just weeks after Washington relaxed its enforcement of some energy sanctions on Iran, the US has warned that it may impose secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil, an apparent move to gain leverage ahead of further negotiations.
A source briefed by Tehran revealed that, as part of proposing negotiations to the US, Iran might consider allowing vessels to navigate freely on the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without the risk of attack, provided both sides reach an agreement to prevent a resurgence of conflict. (Translated by: Li Pei-shan) 1150416
Choose to stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to guard press freedom.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, pictures, and audio/video of this website are not allowed to be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.