Iran-linked ships transit Strait of Hormuz despite US saying blockade is holding

Shipping analytics firm Kpler reported movements indicating that some vessels linked to Iran completed transits through the strategic waterway.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Maritime tracking data showed Tuesday that several Iran-linked vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz despite a U.S. naval blockade, as the U.S. military maintained that enforcement actions had prevented any successful breaches and forced multiple ships to turn back.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had stopped vessels attempting to leave Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of the blockade.

“Ten vessels have now been turned around, and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the US blockade on Monday,” CENTCOM said in a post on X. The command had earlier reported nine ships turned back but later added a 10th vessel that it said was “redirected” back to Iran by a U.S. guided missile destroyer.

Despite those claims, shipping analytics firm Kpler reported movements indicating that some vessels linked to Iran completed transits through the strategic waterway.

According to data cited by AFP, the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna crossed the strait after unloading 74,000 tonnes of corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini in the Gulf, passing Iran’s Larak Island on Monday.

Kpler data also showed that the Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis was near Larak Island around 1100 GMT and cleared the strait about 1600 GMT.

The tanker was carrying 31,000 tonnes of methanol after departing the Iranian port of Bushehr in the Gulf on March 31.

Another vessel identified by tracking data, the Argo Maris, was also reported to have sailed from Iran and crossed the strait.

Maritime experts cautioned that vessel tracking information in the region may be unreliable, noting that signals are frequently disrupted or manipulated amid heightened tensions.

The conflicting accounts highlight ongoing disputes over the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade as Washington seeks to restrict maritime activity linked to Iran while maintaining control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.