Iran-linked vessels cross Hormuz despite US blockade

S. S. S. Central Command began the blockade targeting maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports. Officials said the operation was designed not to obstruct ships passing through the strait when their voyages were to or from other countries.

Ship-tracking information from MarineTraffic showed that two of the vessels, the bulk carrier Christianna and the tanker Elpis , had previously called at Iranian ports. The Christianna had visited Bandar Iman Khomeini , while the Elpis had called at Bushehr , the data indicated. The Elpis is under U.S. sanctions linked to Iran-related trade, according to the same account.

Two other tankers, Rich Starry and Murlikishan , also sanctioned by the U.S. for Iranian links, were shown by tracking data to have passed through the strait overnight. Separately, the tracking information suggested that at least three additional vessels without apparent Iranian connections have crossed the waterway since the blockade began.

The movements come during a period of elevated regional tension following the breakdown of ceasefire talks and President Donald Trump announcing the blockade. Trump said the step was taken in response to Iran’s failure to reopen the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a central corridor for global shipping, and the past six weeks have seen major disruption that has affected energy prices and international supply chains.

Before the conflict, an average of 138 ships transited the strait each day, underscoring the scale of normal traffic through the channel. With disruption persisting, concerns remain about the risk of escalation and the possibility of attacks on commercial vessels. Safety risks for navigation have also been highlighted due to the potential presence of sea mines.

In response to the security environment, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has published permitted routes intended to steer ships away from a designated “dangerous area” in the channel. U.S. Navy forces have deployed destroyers to clear sea mines that had been laid, officials said. How quickly traffic patterns normalize, and whether further incidents occur, remain key uncertainties for shipping operators and energy markets that rely on the strait.