Three Ships Leave Iranian Ports Despite US Military Blockade

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 23:51 IST

Iran linked ships cross Strait of Hormuz despite new US naval blockade, including Liberia and Comoros flagged vessels and US sanctioned China linked tanker Rich Starry.

At least three ships departed from Iranian ports and crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite a US military blockade, according to a maritime tracking data on Tuesday.

The United States has escalated pressure on Iran by launching a naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iranian ports, transforming the Strait of Hormuz into the central theatre of economic and strategic confrontation. US Central Command has said the blockade targets “vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas".

However, at least seven Iran-linked vessels passed through the strait after Washington’s blockade came into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, AFP cited maritime data provider Kpler.

One of the three ships that crossed the strait was Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna. It unloading 74,000 tonnes of corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini in the Gulf, passing Iran’s Larak Island in the strait around 1600 GMT on Monday, Kpler data stated.

The second ship – Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis – carrying 31,000 tonnes of methanol, was near Larak Island around 1100 GMT and cleared the strait about 1600 GMT.

AFP quoted the trackers stating that the other vessels that crossed included the Argo Maris, which had also sailed from Iran.

Meanwhile, a US-sanctioned, China-linked tanker was one of the first vessels to test President Donald Trump’s naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The tanker, Rich Starry, passed through the strait and exited the Gulf after the blockade came into force, according to maritime tracking data from Kpler and LSEG. The vessel, sanctioned by the United States for its links to Iran, was carrying around 250,000 barrels of methanol and is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd.

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