The oil tanker P. Aliki, carrying approximately 650,000 barrels of Saudi crude to Pakistan, has navigated the Strait of Hormuz, passing along the Iranian coastline. This movement was reported by Bloomberg, citing tracking data.
On March 28, seven vessels departed from the Persian Gulf, including the oil tanker, alongside two liquefied petroleum gas carriers and four bulk carriers. All seven ships followed a northern route through the narrow passage between the Iranian islands of Larak and Qeshm, coinciding with Iran’s increased oversight of this critical maritime corridor.
The Iranian Parliament is currently deliberating a bill that would impose fees on vessels seeking safe passage through these waters. Despite these developments, overall shipping traffic through the Strait remains low compared to pre-war levels.
Bloomberg noted that tracking vessels has become more challenging due to electronic signal jamming, with some ships disabling their AIS transponders in high-risk areas, further complicating the timeliness and reliability of tracking data.
Meanwhile, Iranian-affiliated oil tankers continue to traverse the Strait with their transponders turned off. The average flow of shipments has been about 1.6 million barrels per day for the first 23 days of March.
Military Operations Against Iran
On February 28, Israel conducted an attack on the Iranian capital, Tehran. Subsequently, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the initiation of a “major military operation” against Iran, aimed at neutralizing perceived threats from the Iranian regime. He accused Iran of funding and training militant groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Hamas in Palestine, stating that the operation’s objectives included dismantling Iran’s missile industry and naval capabilities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched missiles and drones towards Israel and targeted U.S. military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In response to the U.S. military actions against Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring regional security and stability in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for giving Iranians a chance to rid themselves of the “terrorist regime” and ensure safety for all nations affected by attacks from Iran.
On February 28, Trump claimed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a statement later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). On March 1, the IRGC announced the commencement of “the most destructive offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and U.S. military bases.
Trump warned the Iranian regime to abandon its plans and threatened a “very strong response.” On March 2, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the next phase of military operations against Iran would be even more devastating.
On March 6, Trump called for a complete change in Iran’s leadership, stating he had several candidates in mind for a “good leader.” On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain ayatollah, as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Trump declined to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei’s election, stating only, “We’ll see what happens.” Previously, he had suggested that the new Iranian leader would not last long without the approval of the White House.
The transit of the oil tanker P. Aliki through the Strait of Hormuz highlights ongoing maritime tensions as Iran increases control over shipping lanes. Concurrently, military operations led by the U.S. and Israel against Iran have escalated, raising concerns about regional stability.
Source: Bloomberg