Live updates: Iran war, US says blockade of Iranian ports ‘fully implemented,’ Trump hints at further peace talks
Two vessels that passed through the Strait of Hormuz stopped at the same point in the Gulf of Oman, according to Kpler, a data intelligence and analytics platform, with one vessel having made a U-turn back through the waterway.
On Tuesday, US Central Command said that six merchant ships were compelled to turn around to “re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman” after encountering the US naval blockade.
Kpler data shows the Chinese-owned Rich Starry – a US sanctioned tanker due to its Iran ties – exiting through the Iranian outbound lane on 14 April, then reversing course into the Gulf of Oman. Kpler data further shows Elpis, another sanctioned vessel, stopping at the same point as the Rich Starry in the Gulf of Oman before turning off its transponder.
In total, Kpler data shows five laden product tankers that successfully exited through Iran’s toll corridor “in the 48 hours around the blockade’s start are now holding stationary in the Gulf of Oman.”
One vessel, Ostria, turned back from the Strait of Hormuz before loading, Kpler said, noting that that “this is the blockade working as CENTCOM described: a vessel heading toward an Iranian port, turned back before it could load.”
Marine Traffic data reviewed by CNN indicates both the Rich Starry and Elpis crossed the strait on April 13, before the Rich Starry stops and turns around one day later, heading back toward the Persian Gulf. In the same area the Rich Starry made a U-turn, the Elpis also stops before its signal goes dark. Meanwhile, on April 13, the Ostria was heading through the critical chokepoint when it turns around abruptly before it can cross the waterway.
Iran has, however, been reporting the movement of ships heading to Iranian ports and passing through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the US naval blockade.
Asked for further details about the blockade, including whether the US military intercepted the Rich Starry, Elpis or Ostria, CENTCOM referred CNN to its Tuesday statement. “We have nothing further to provide at this time,” it said.
