Three tankers moved through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, April 14, the first full day of a US-imposed blockade targeting vessels linked to Iranian ports, Aljazeera reports. According to the report, the ships were not bound for Iranian ports, and therefore were not affected by the blockade announced on Sunday by US President Donald Trump after negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce an agreement. ALSO READ: Economists warn of oil shock, urge spending cuts In the days leading up to this, Iran had nearly shut down traffic in the strait, a critical corridor for global energy supply. The move was in response to joint US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28. One of the vessels that transited the strait on Tuesday is the Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, which was en route to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates. It transports Iranian naphtha to regional ports for onward export to Asia. ALSO READ: How significant is Strait of Hormuz in US, Israel-Iran conflict Earlier, two tankers under US sanctions also navigated the passage. The Handy-sized Murlikishan is reportedly heading to Iraq, where it is expected to load fuel oil. The vessel has previously carried both Russian and Iranian crude. Another ship, Rich Starry, is set to become the first sanctioned tanker to both enter and leave the Gulf since the blockade took effect. The vessel, owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd, has been sanctioned by the US for its involvement in Iranian trade. It is currently carrying approximately 250,000 barrels of methanol, loaded from Hamriyah, and is operated by a Chinese crew.
