A tanker previously sanctioned by the United States and linked to China has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, becoming an early test of Donald Trump’s newly imposed naval blockade targeting Iran’s oil trade, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The vessel, Rich Starry, earlier known as Full Star, had been blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for allegedly assisting Tehran in bypassing energy sanctions.
Ship-tracking data cited in the report showed the tanker made two attempts to leave the Persian Gulf within a span of less than 24 hours.
Shortly after the blockade came into effect, Rich Starry approached the narrow passage near Iran’s Qeshm Island but turned back before resuming its journey a few hours later.
During its renewed transit attempt, the vessel broadcast that it has a Chinese owner and crew, Bloomberg reported.
It was not immediately clear whether the tanker had recently docked at Iranian ports or whether it was currently carrying cargo.
The uncertainty has added to concerns across global shipping and trading networks, many of which are waiting for greater clarity regarding the operational details of the blockade that came into force Monday at 10 am New York time.
Another tanker, Elpis, was also reported to be moving through the Strait of Hormuz at the time the blockade began.
According to ship-tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa, the vessel had previously berthed at an Iranian port in the Gulf before attempting to navigate the strategic waterway.
Since the blockade’s implementation, no ships with their tracking transponders switched on have been observed entering the Persian Gulf, indicating that many operators may be holding back movements until there is a clearer understanding of enforcement measures.
The move by Washington has generated unease among countries across Asia that rely significantly on energy imports from the Middle East.
Reflecting these concerns, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged stakeholders to encourage diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington, according to a statement released by Beijing on Monday.
The report also raises questions regarding the tanker’s registration details.
Although Rich Starry is listed as sailing under the flag of Malawi, authorities in the landlocked African country have stated that it does not operate an official registry for ocean-going vessels.
Maritime database Equasis lists the ship’s owner as Full Star Shipping Ltd., which shares contact details with Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co. Ltd., an entity also sanctioned by the US State Department. Attempts to contact the Shanghai-based firm reportedly did not succeed, and the company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Ownership details of Elpis also remain under scrutiny.
The vessel is owned by Chart Chemical SA and uses contact details associated with its manager, IMS Ltd.
Attempts to reach the Malaysia-based firm were unsuccessful, and no immediate response was received to email queries, the report mentioned.
