Iranian tanker breaks through US blockade

A large crude oil tanker owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company managed to evade U.S. Navy forces and reach the Asia-Pacific region, according to data from the tracking service TankerTrackers.com. The ship carried over 1.9 million barrels of crude oil worth nearly $220 million.

Iranian tanker breaks through US blockade

TL;DR

  • An Iranian crude oil tanker carrying over 1.9 million barrels evaded U.S. Navy forces and reached the Asia-Pacific region.
  • The tanker, valued at nearly $220 million, was last seen near Sri Lanka and is currently in the Indonesian Lombok Strait.
  • The U.S. Navy had announced a blockade of Iranian ports on April 13th.
  • President Trump ordered the development of a plan for a long-term naval blockade of Iran.
  • Trump also confirmed a U.S. Navy attack on an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.
  • The attack occurred after the Iranian vessel attempted to break the U.S. naval blockade.