Over 20 Ships Crossed Strait Of Hormuz In 24 Hours Despite US Blockade: Report

Last Updated:April 15, 2026, 03:19 IST

CENTCOM said that the blockade applies only to vessels “entering and exiting Iranian ports” and other vessels remain free to transit the waterway.

More than 20 commercial ships crossed the critical Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours despite a US naval blockade, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing officials.

The blockade, ordered by US President Donald Trump after weekend talks with Iran in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough in efforts to end the ongoing conflict, came into force on Monday.

The report came in contrast to statements from the US Central Command, which claimed that no ships have made it past a US naval blockade of Iran’s ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back.

CENTCOM said that the blockade applies only to vessels “entering and exiting Iranian ports" and other vessels remain free to transit the waterway.

“US forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," it added.

However, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler, at least two ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz within hours of the US blockade taking effect, with a third crossing overnight.

The first vessel to test that authority was the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna, which had unloaded corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini and passed Iran’s Larak Island- just two hours after the blockade came into effect.

A second ship, the Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis, cleared the strait at roughly the same time. The Elpis had departed the Iranian port of Bushehr on March 31, carrying 31,000 tonnes of methanol. Overnight, a third vessel- the Chinese tanker Rich Starry- crossed the strait via the Iranian-approved vetting route south of Larak Island, Kpler data showed.

The Strait of Hormuz carries an estimated 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and any sustained disruption to shipping through the waterway would send immediate shockwaves through global energy markets.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Over 20 Ships Crossed Strait Of Hormuz In 24 Hours Despite US Blockade: Report

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