Iran-Linked 34 Tankers Bypass US Blockade as Iranian Regime Seizes 2 Vessels

22/04/2026

Iran-Linked 34 Tankers Bypass US Blockade as Iranian Regime Seizes 2 Vessels

TEHRAN, April 22: At least 34 tankers linked to Iran have bypassed a U.S.-led blockade since it was imposed, according to a report by the Financial Times citing cargo tracking firm Vortexa, highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcing restrictions on Iranian oil flows.

The report said 19 vessels exited the Persian Gulf despite the blockade, while 15 entered from the Arabian Sea en route to Iran. Of those departing, six tankers were carrying Iranian crude with a combined cargo of approximately 10.7 million barrels. Based on discounted pricing typical of sanctioned oil—estimated at around $10 below Brent crude—the shipments were valued at roughly $910 million.

Separately, Iranian state television reported that two vessels previously attacked الأربعاء by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are now in its custody and being escorted to Iran. The ships were identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes, though their owners could not immediately be reached for comment.

The IRGC said the vessels were seized for allegedly operating without authorization, violating maritime regulations, and attempting to covertly transit the Strait of Hormuz while manipulating navigational systems, actions it claimed posed risks to maritime security.

The seizures mark a further escalation in regional tensions, coming after U.S. forces recently intercepted and seized Iranian-linked vessels ahead of planned ceasefire talks in Islamabad. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, has traditionally been regarded as an international waterway open to commercial traffic despite lying within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.