Iran-linked vessels cross Strait of Hormuz ahead of US blockade

The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz increased on Tuesday, with most of them linked to Iranian trade, before an illegal US blockade took effect on Wednesday, shipping data showed.

According to ship-tracking data from Kpler, nine of the 11 vessels that passed through the strait on Tuesday sailed via the Iranian route. Vessels that exited the strait with Iranian exports included one Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) carrying 2 million barrels of crude, a medium-range tanker with refined products, and two tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas.

The data, reported by Reuters, indicated no visible entries or exits for tankers to load oil and gas from other Persian Gulf producers on Tuesday.

The US blockade, which began on Wednesday, is considered illegal by Iran and has raised tensions in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes.

According to Mehr News Agency (MNA), the increased traffic highlights Iran's efforts to maintain its trade routes despite the blockade.