US President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the US Navy will begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, increasing tensions after prolonged negotiations with Iran failed to reach an agreement to end the fighting, threatening a 2-week ceasefire agreement.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that US forces will begin to implement the blockade of all maritime activities entering and leaving Iranian ports from 10 am on April 13, US Eastern time (ie 9 pm on the same day, Vietnam time).
CENTCOM's statement stated that this measure will be "enforced fairly against ships of all nations entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman".
However, US forces will not obstruct freedom of navigation for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to enter or leave ports not belonging to Iran. Detailed information will be officially notified to commercial ships before the blockade takes effect.
On the Iranian side, on April 12, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards warned that any military ship approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire and would be strongly and decisively handled.
Data from LSEG and Kpler shows that 2 oil tankers flying Pakistan flags, Shalamar and Khairpur, entered the Gulf on April 12.
In which, the ship Aframax Shalamar is expected to arrive in the United Arab Emirates on April 13 to receive Das crude oil, while the ship Khairpur Panamax is heading to Kuwait to receive refined oil products.
The super oil tanker (VLCC) flying the Liberian flag Mombasa B passed through the strait on April 12 and is running in the Gulf in a non-cargo state.
Meanwhile, the VLCC Agios Fanourios I ship flying the Maltese flag, which tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on April 12 to enter the Gulf to receive Basra crude oil in Iraq, has turned around and is currently anchored near the Oman Gulf area. This ship is expected to move to Iraq.
Despite the deadlock in US-Iran peace talks, transport data shows that 3 cargo-loading oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11. These seem to be the first ships to leave the Gulf since the ceasefire agreement was established last week.
