Iran Tankers Evade US Blockade: 34 Ships Bypass Hormuz

At least 34 tankers linked to Iran have slipped past the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This comes despite President Donald Trump’s claims that America “totally controls” the waterway. The U.S. imposed the blockade on April 13, aiming to stop economic trade to and from Iran. So far, only one container ship has been detained by U.S. forces. Of the 34 ships that bypassed the blockade, 19 are connected to Iran. They’ve exited the Gulf, with some confirmed to be carrying Iranian crude oil. These shipments total around 10.7 million barrels, potentially generating about $910 million in revenue due to discounted prices from international sanctions. One vessel, the Dorena, turned off its transponder to avoid detection. It later transferred oil to another sanctioned ship off Malaysia. Iran has stated that control of the Strait of Hormuz is back to its previous state, requiring all vessels to get permission from its navy. The bottom line is that this situation highlights ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges of enforcing maritime sanctions against Iran.