US Blockade Stops Ships in Hormuz Strait—Including Runaway Chinese Tanker
Summary
The U.S. Navy has set up a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, stopping ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports. A Chinese tanker named Rich Starry attempted to pass but was turned back by the U.S. forces within the first 24 hours of the blockade.Key Facts
- The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) began the blockade at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on a Monday.
- Six merchant ships were ordered to turn back to Iranian ports during the first day of the blockade.
- The Rich Starry, a Chinese chemical and crude oil tanker sanctioned by the U.S. for trading with Iran, tried to cross the strait but failed.
- The Rich Starry was carrying 250,000 barrels of methanol from the UAE, heading to Oman.
- The vessel attempted to use an Iran-declared transit corridor through Iranian waters, which charges a fee reportedly payable in cryptocurrency.
- Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to less than 10% of its usual volume before the Iran-Iraq war.
- The blockade involves around 10,000 U.S. service members and could create tensions between the U.S. and China.
- The Rich Starry has a history of violating sanctions and is known as a "serial AIS spoofer," meaning it can fake its location signals.
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