Bloomberg: A Sub-sanctioned Tanker Broke Through Trump's Blockade In The Strait Of Hormuz

The owner of the vessel is a company linked to China.

The Rich Starry, a Chinese-linked tanker on the US sanctions list, has made a passage through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively testing the announced naval blockade of Iran initiated by Donald Trump, writes Bloomberg.

The vessel, formerly called Full Star, came under sanctions back in 2023 on suspicion of helping Iran circumvent oil export restrictions. It is currently unknown whether the tanker entered Iranian ports before transiting and what kind of cargo it was carrying.

Tense Maneuver at Strategic Hub

According to ship tracking systems, the tanker made its second attempt to leave the Persian Gulf in less than 24 hours. It first approached the strait near the Iranian island of Qeshm but turned around. The vessel subsequently headed out again, claiming to be under Chinese control. This is a common practice to mitigate risks, but this time it became a challenge for the US.

Another tanker, Elpis, also attempted to pass through the strait when the blockade went into effect. According to analyst platforms, it had visited an Iranian port before doing so.

Doubtful details and owners

Rich Starry claims to be flying the flag of Malawi, but that country does not have a full-fledged registry of ocean-going vessels. The tanker is owned by a company linked to a Shanghai-based entity, which is also under US sanctions.

In turn, the owners of Elpis and its operators have not yet provided any comment on the situation.

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