At least three tankers entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler shows.The Panama-flagged Peace Gulf is heading to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates after transiting the new route between the islands of Larak and Hormuz in Iranian territorial waters that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has ordered all vessels to take.Earlier, two United States-sanctioned tankers, the Rich Starry and the Elpis, passed through the strategic narrow waterway. As the three vessels transiting the strait were not heading to Iranian ports, they are not affected by the US blockade, which took effect on Monday. US naval blockade of Iran’s portsOn Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces began implementing the blockade of maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports at 10am ET (14:00 GMT), in line with Trump’s presidential order.CENTCOM said the blockade would apply to “vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman”. Tehran has warned it could retaliate by targeting ports in neighbouring Gulf countries.Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping following the US-Israeli attacks on February 28.Washington and Tehran have issued conflicting instructions to vessels navigating the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, adding to confusion for global shipping.Alternative route th …
