A Chinese tanker under U.S. sanctions has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, appearing to ignore the blockade recently imposed by the U.S. Navy.

According to data from maritime tracking agencies MarineTraffic and Kpler, this marks the first reported instance of a tanker exiting the Gulf region since the U.S. blockade officially commenced. The vessel has been identified as the Reach Starry.

The medium-sized tanker is owned by the Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Company Limited. Tracking information shows the vessel was carrying approximately 250,000 barrels of methanol, having departed from the Hamriyah Port in the United Arab Emirates.

Escalating Tensions
The transit comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the United States would begin blockading all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz.

"I have instructed our Navy to identify and intercept ships in international waters that are paying Iran in any way," Trump wrote. "No one paying illegal tolls will be able to travel the seas safely."

Blockade Implementation
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that the blockade went into effect as of 10:00 AM Eastern Time on Monday. The restricted zone includes Iranian ports within both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The successful passage of the Reach Starry raises questions about the immediate enforcement capabilities of the blockade and could signal further diplomatic friction between Washington and Beijing.
Source: Middle East Eye