The Shoja 2 Iranian cargo ship has reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz despite a US blockade on Iranian ports, as fears grow over disrupted oil trade and rising prices
An Iranian-flagged cargo ship is reportedly navigating the Strait of Hormuz, despite a US blockade of Iranian ports in this crucial trade route, as per various reports.
The Shoja 2 cargo vessel set sail from the Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The ship is said to be continuing its journey towards the Port of Kandla in India.
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted since Iran shut down this vital trade route in response to joint US-Israeli strikes that commenced on February 28.
Despite a brief ceasefire, the US has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports in the strait, pressuring the country to reopen the route and comply with peace negotiation demands.
Approximately 20% of all globally traded oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and its closure has sent shockwaves through global markets and caused a surge in oil prices.
Footage shared by the US Central Command a day earlier captured the moment US marines boarded an Iranian tanker after ‘blowing hole in engine room’.
Marines were seen descending from a US aircraft onto the Iranian tanker as it approached the Strait of Hormuz.
The claim that the cargo ship is traversing the strait has not been independently confirmed.
Al Jazeera news agency has reported that marine tracking data from MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics provider, indicates the ship is currently navigating in the strait.
According to MarineTraffic, the Shoja 2 is destined for India.