Kathmandu. US President Donald Trump has praised the US blockade on Hormuz amid tensions with Iran. However, the blockade appears to be weakening.
Shipping data showed that a Chinese tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday despite the US blockade. Data from Marine Transport and Kepler show that the Chinese tanker Rich Stari will be the first ship to cross the Strait Hormuz and exit the Gulf since the blockade began.
The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co., were sanctioned by the United States for doing business with Iran. The Rich Starry is a medium-sized tanker. It carries about 2,50,000 methanol. Data shows that it had loaded its cargo at the Hamariyah port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Chinese-owned tanker is carrying Chinese crew members.
The second tanker, Murlikis, also entered Hormuz on Tuesday, according to other figures. The empty tanker is expected to load oil into Iraq on April 16. The ship, formerly known as the MKA, was carrying Russian and Iranian oil.
The U.S. military on Monday officially imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. This has infuriated Tehran. The blockade has added to uncertainty about Hormuz. However, it is not clear when the war will end. As a result, the price of crude oil is around $ 100 per barrel. –Agency
