On Wednesday, according to Bloomberg citing satellite images from data intelligence firm Vortexa, two fully loaded Iranian VLCCs crossed the U.S.-designated blockade line on April 20 and entered the Arabian Sea. This is the latest case captured by satellites this week and serves as a microcosm of at least 34 Iranian-related tankers and gas carriers that have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade began.
The two vessels that breached the blockade can carry up to 4 million barrels of crude oil combined, further highlighting the limitations of U.S. efforts to block Iranian crude exports. On Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, while simultaneously stating that the blockade would continue.
Currently, approximately 800 ships remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated it is developing evacuation plans, but implementation depends on further de-escalation of the situation.
<h2>Satellite Images Reveal Breach Details</h2>
According to Vortexa data, the two vessels crossing the blockade line were Hero II and Hedy, both VLCCs flying the Iranian flag. Both ships turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to evade tracking by the U.S. Navy—a common tactic employed by vessels attempting to circumvent the blockade.
Hero II last broadcast its position over a month ago while sailing northward through the Strait of Malacca; Hedy last transmitted location signals near Cape Guardafui in late February. Their final destinations remain unclear. Vortexa noted that India received two batches of Iranian crude before a recent U.S. exemption expired.
<h2>Blockade Effectiveness Questioned as Multiple Ships Continue to Test Boundaries</h2>
Vortexa data indicates that since the blockade began early last week, at least 34 Iranian-linked vessels have crossed the strait and the blockade line. Of those that have passed, 19 are exiting the Persian Gulf, with 17 carrying cargo, collectively delivering approximately 9 million barrels of crude oil to the market.
The U.S. Navy's blockade line extends northeast from Cape Had near the Omani coastline to the Pakistan border. Although the U.S. Navy has detained one Iranian-linked cargo vessel since the blockade began and boarded a sanctioned tanker in waters east of Sri Lanka, expanding the scope of operations, multiple vessels continue to test the blockade boundaries.
<h2>More Ships Approach the Strait of Hormuz</h2>
In addition to Hero II and Hedy, several other vessels are moving toward the Strait of Hormuz. The small LPG carrier G Summer, subject to U.S. sanctions, crossed the strait on Tuesday; vessel tracking data shows it has already passed the boundary line declared by the U.S. Navy for the blockade. The Gambian-flagged cargo ship Lian Star also transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday and is currently sailing along the Iranian coastline, approaching the blockade boundary.
The long-range fuel tanker Atlantis II, also under U.S. sanctions, began heading toward the Strait of Hormuz late Tuesday night and has now approached Larak Island within the strait. It remains unclear whether it is carrying cargo. The LPG carrier LPG Sevan is also approaching the Strait of Hormuz, although its displayed destination is Sharjah Port in the UAE within the Persian Gulf; the vessel had previously transported Iranian cargo.
According to the maritime database Equasis, Atlantis II is managed by Al Anchor Ship Management FZE of the UAE, whose owner shares the same registered address as Al Anchor. LPG Sevan is owned and managed by Anka Energy &amp; Logistics Co. based in Dubai. Another nearby medium-sized tanker, Ocean Jewel, has no known connection to Iran; its owner and operator are Shanghai-based Ocean Jewel Shipping Co. Ltd.
Additionally, on Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran but clearly stated that the blockade would continue. This statement implies that the plight of approximately 800 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf is unlikely to change in the short term. The IMO stated on Tuesday that it is exploring evacuation plans for the stranded vessels, but implementation hinges on whether the situation can achieve substantial de-escalation.

Trump pulled a last-minute reversal, announcing an extension of the ceasefire and maintaining the naval blockade pending a proposal from Iran. Iranian media reported that Iran formally refused to attend the US-Iran talks on the 22nd, and the White House stated that Vance and the US delegation canceled their trip to Pakistan, leaving the future arrangements of the negotiations uncertain. Do you think Iran will compromise first, or will Trump give in first? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Trump pulled a last-minute reversal, announcing an extension of the ceasefire and maintaining the naval blockade pending a proposal from Iran. Iranian media reported that Iran formally refused to attend the US-Iran talks on the 22nd, and the White House stated that Vance and the US delegation canceled their trip to Pakistan, leaving the future arrangements of the negotiations uncertain. Do you think Iran will compromise first, or will Trump give in first? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

With US-Iran negotiations deadlocked, how long can the ceasefire last?

Satellite imagery shows that Iran's VLCCs Hero II and Hedy shut down their tracking systems on April 20 and quietly crossed the blockade line, carrying a combined total of 4 million barrels of crude oil into the Arabian Sea. Since the blockade began, at least 34 Iranian-linked vessels have successfully broken through, delivering approximately 9 million barrels of crude oil to the market, casting doubt on the blockade's effectiveness. Meanwhile, about 800 ships remain trapped in the Persian Gulf with an uncertain outlook

- On April 20, two Iranian supertankers crossed a U.S.-designated blockade into the Arabian Sea, part of 34 vessels that have breached the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade's inception.  
- The two ships can carry up to 4 million barrels of oil, highlighting the limitations of U.S. efforts to curb Iranian oil exports, despite President Trump's announcement of an indefinite ceasefire with Iran while maintaining the blockade.  
- Approximately 800 vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, with the International Maritime Organization developing evacuation plans contingent on a reduction of tensions.

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Report: Two Iranian Tankers Carrying Full Loads Shut Down Tracking Systems, Bypass U.S. Blockade to Enter Arabian Sea