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On Saturday morning, two vessels flagged by the US for their involvement in Iran’s “shadow fleet” navigated the Strait of Hormuz, as indicated by tracking data.
The tanker Ocean Jet, part of a US sanctions list due to its connection to Iran’s drone exports supporting Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, along with the Lumina Ocean, an oil tanker registered in Curacao, successfully traversed the Strait without interference, according to a report from NBC News citing Marine Traffic data.
The Curacao-flagged ship reportedly maneuvered through the passage by hugging the coastline, as detailed by the news outlet.
In addition to these, several cargo vessels and a Russian yacht also passed through the Strait early on Saturday morning.
This movement occurred in spite of a US naval blockade that is otherwise restricting shipping activities in the region.
Trump ordered the blockade of the vital passageway on April 12, in a move intended to pressure the Iranian regime. The USS George W. Bush aircraft carrier is joining the mission, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth said Friday, and the blockade is “growing.”
But Iranian drone and missile attacks on ships prior to the US and Tehran agreeing to a cease-fire on April 8, as well as the threat of potential Iranian mines has prevented many captains from risking the passage.
US Central Command did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment but CENTCOM posted an image on social media Saturday of the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta helping enforce the blockade against an Iranian-flagged ship trying to sail to an Iranian port on April 24.
It also posted an image of the Bush Carrier Strike Group sailing in the Indian Ocean as it makes its way to the region.
Meanwhile, a US Navy operation is underway to search for mines and keep the Strait clear of potential threats. The USS George W. Bush aircraft carrier is joining the mission, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth said Friday, and the blockade is “growing.”
Trump called off peace talks Saturday that were scheduled to take place in Islamabad, where Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were planning to meet Pakistani mediators and an Iranian delegation.
He was upbeat on the overall US position. “We have all the cards. We’ve won everything,” Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida.