Luxury Yacht Linked to Russian Oligarch Passes Through Strait of Hormuz

Key Points:

• The luxury superyacht Nord, linked to Russian oligarch Aleksei A. Mordashov, passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend despite ongoing blockades by the United States and Iran.
• The 464-foot vessel left Port Rashid in Dubai on Friday and sailed through the strait on Saturday, with its transponder turned on, indicating it was allowed passage by Iranian authorities.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps requires permission for all vessels transiting the strait, and the Nord’s route near the Iranian island of Larak suggests it followed Iran’s approved passage route.
• The Strait of Hormuz remains highly restricted due to the recent conflict involving Iran, with both Iran and the U.S. imposing blockades, making the passage risky and generally avoided by most shipowners and insurers.
• Russia, a key ally of Iran, continues diplomatic engagement, with Iran’s foreign minister meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel.