New York : A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, becoming one of the first ships to make its way through the energy chokepoint after the US military began a blockade of Iran’s ports. Maritime traffic data showed that Rich Starry, a medium-range tanker, is now in the Gulf of Oman after successfully crossing Hormuz. The vessel, which was sailing under the flag of Malawi (a landlocked country), had turned back on Monday just as the blockade came into effect, Bloomberg reported.
However, the US made it clear that ships using non-Iranian ports would not face any blockade. Thus, it is not clear whether the Chinese tanker visited Iranian ports before its transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Data shows the Rich Starry is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd. Both the owner and the vessel were blacklisted by the US around two years back for helping Iran evade energy sanctions. The tanker was carrying about 2,50,000 barrels of methanol. It loaded the cargo at the UAE’s Hamriyah port, the data showed.
While the Peace Gulf was heading to Hamriyah port, Murlikishan, also a sanctioned vessel, moved towards Iraq. The tanker has previously transported Russian and Iranian oil. Experts have emphasised that Trump’s move to block Hormuz raises the risks of confrontations with major oil-importing countries like China. It prompted China to issue its most forceful criticism yet of Washington amid the Iran war. China called the blockade “dangerous and irresponsible”, asserting that the world must not be allowed to “revert to the law of the jungle”.
The incident comes amid a slugfest between the superpowers after US intel suggested that China was preparing to arm Iran with air defence systems within the next few weeks. Earlier this week, Trump said any support from Beijing to Tehran was being closely watched.
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