Iran claims oil tanker transits Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. blockade on Iranian ports

Key Points:

• Iran's state media reported that a bulk carrier with food supplies and an Iranian crude oil tanker entered Iranian waters after passing through the Strait of Hormuz, despite a U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports being declared "fully implemented."
• The Chinese-owned crude oil tanker Alicia, previously sanctioned for carrying Iranian oil, was tracked sailing through the Strait of Hormuz overnight, along with other tankers, some of which are under U.S. sanctions.
• The U.S. blockade, effective since Monday, targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports but does not impede freedom of navigation for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, according to CENTCOM and a U.S. official.
• Several Iran-linked and sanctioned vessels have been observed passing through the strait after the blockade began, with some turning off their transponders near Iranian waters, complicating open-source tracking efforts.
• CBS News analysis indicates uncertainty about the exact enforcement and location of the blockade, as some tankers have altered courses or ceased broadcasting locations, raising concerns about potential location spoofing.