Tankers Linked to Iran Navigate Around US Hormuz Blockade While Trump Asserts Economic Pressure is Taking Effect

Numerous tankers associated with Iran are evading the US blockade, casting uncertainty on Trump’s claims that the pressure is debilitating Tehran’s economy and revenue streams.

According to a Financial Times report on Wednesday, at least 34 tankers associated with Iran have successfully navigated past the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz recently, despite the ongoing restrictions imposed by the United States.

President Donald Trump asserted that America ‘totally controls’ the Strait of Hormuz, describing the blockade strategy as a ‘tremendous success’ and stating that the embargo would remain in place until a “final deal” with Iran was achieved.

On April 13, the US enacted a blockade intended to ‘completely halt’ economic trade flowing to and from Iran by sea, targeting vessels transporting goods that could be utilized by Iran in its conflict with the US and Israel.

To date, US forces have detained a single container ship in the Gulf of Oman and have boarded one sanctioned tanker in the Indo-Pacific. On Tuesday, the US Central Command announced that American forces have instructed 28 vessels to either turn around or return to port since the blockade began.

Of the 34 ships that have navigated around the blockade, at least 19 are tankers associated with Iran that have departed from the Gulf. The report indicated that the remaining 15 have made their way into the Gulf from the Arabian Sea, en route to Iran.

Of the vessels that departed, at least six have been verified as transporting Iranian crude oil, with a total cargo of around 10.7 million barrels. Considering that Iranian oil typically sells at a discount to Brent crude due to international sanctions, a cautious estimate of $10 per barrel below the market price would result in total revenue from these shipments being approximately $910 million.

According to the report, one of the vessels, Dorena, an Iranian-flagged supertanker, successfully passed through the US blockade after disabling its transponder, a device used to indicate location and identity.

Vortexa, a provider of real-time data on global waterborne oil and gas movements, reported that the laden vessel departed from Iranian waters on April 17, followed by two other oil tankers that passed by on April 20.

The Dorena subsequently conducted a ship-to-ship transfer of oil with another sanctioned vessel off the coast of Malaysia to obscure the oil’s origin. 

Other sanctioned tankers, including Murlikishan and Alicia, have made their way into the Gulf from the Gulf of Oman, having been sanctioned by the US last year. On April 14, these two ships traversed the Strait of Hormuz and proceeded to the northern end of the Gulf.

On April 18, Iran declared that control of the Strait of Hormuz has “reverted to its previous state” in light of the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports. 

The Iranian Navy stated in a post on X that all transits must receive authorization from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. It specified that civilian vessels are allowed to navigate only through Iran’s designated route, while military vessels remain prohibited from passing through.

On Wednesday, Trump asserted that Iran was experiencing a financial collapse due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched attacks on three vessels in the crucial waterway, which is under blockade by both Washington and Tehran.

Trump’s remarks followed his announcement of an indefinite extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran, which was contingent upon Iran removing its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, Iran temporarily lifted its blockade in light of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire but soon changed its stance after the US announced it would continue the blockade imposed on Iran-linked shipping on April 13, just five days into the truce.

“Iran is experiencing a significant financial collapse!” “They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately,” Trump stated on Truth Social. The Islamic Republic is experiencing a severe cash shortage, with reports indicating that its military and police forces have expressed concerns about not receiving their salaries, he asserted.

Trump stated that Iran was “losing 500 million dollars a day” due to the US closure, which was hindering Tehran from taxing ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“They desire it to be open in order to generate $500 million daily,” Trump stated in another Truth Social post early Wednesday. Trump indicated that the US blockade was essential as a bargaining tool in discussions with Iran, asserting that if he consents to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “There can never be a deal with Iran unless we blow up the rest of their country, their leaders included!”

Additionally, the secretary of the US Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated on X that the US blockade “directly targets the regime’s primary revenue lifelines” by limiting maritime trade.

“The storage at Kharg Island will reach capacity, leading to the shutdown of the delicate Iranian oil wells,” stated Bessent, alluding to the Iranian shipping hub that has been a focus of US actions during the conflict with Iran, through which 90 percent of Tehran’s oil exports are routed.

Bessent reiterated earlier remarks regarding economic pressure, stating that Iranian funds will continue to be frozen and that any individual or vessel aiding the transfer of funds to Iran will face the risk of US sanctions.