Iranian oil products bypassed the American blockade

A tanker belonging to a Chinese company passed the Strait of Hormuz at night. However, the ship could go not from the UAE, but from Iran, experts say, believing that with the help of spoofing, the tanker bypassed the US blockade.

The Rich Starry tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz through Iranian territorial waters at night and became one of the first vessels to pass along the route after the US blockade was announced. Donald Trump has stated that it applies to Iranian exports and ships that pay Tehran for passage.

The Rich Starry tanker indicates that it is carrying cargo from the UAE and thus does not fall under the blockade.

"His AIS signals give the impression that the RICH STARRY tanker is loaded with oil products from the UAE, but in fact he is a serial AIS violator and sanctions violator with a history of transporting Iranian oil products," Tankertrackers activists who track oil shipments noted.

According to Equasis, the tanker, which is under US sanctions, belongs to the Chinese Full Star Shipping and is also operated by a Chinese company. The vessel can carry up to 36 thousand tons of oil products. After entering the Indian Ocean, the tanker turned off the transponder about its location.

Also, according to AIS, another oil tanker, Elpis, passed through the Strait of Hormuz at night. Prior to that, the vessel was stationed at the Iranian Bushehr and, obviously, carries up to 35 thousand tons of Iranian fuel.

Prior to that, the portal reported that it had found on satellite images a tanker that had left the Iranian island of Kharg, deceiving the AIS system to show that it had allegedly left the Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, the United States granted Iranian exports an exemption from sanctions. However, after unsuccessful negotiations in Islamabad, Donald Trump announced the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, according to Bloomberg, Iran is still considering suspending controlled shipping in In the Strait of Hormuz, so as not to disrupt the next round of peace talks.