By Weilun Soon Apr 12, 2026 (Bloomberg) – Two empty oil tankers tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Sunday but quickly turned back just as peace talks between the US and Iran fell apart,...
By Weilun Soon
Apr 12, 2026 (Bloomberg) – Two empty oil tankers tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Sunday but quickly turned back just as peace talks between the US and Iran fell apart, which could undermine a fragile ceasefire.
Ship tracking data indicated that two very large crude carriers and one Aframax-class vessel, none of which had direct ties to Iran, began approaching the narrow waterway from the Gulf of Oman late Saturday, reaching near Iran's Larak Island early Sunday. At that point, the Agios Fanourios I, heading to Iraq, and the Pakistan-flagged Shalamar, bound for Das Island in the UAE, reversed course.
The first VLCC, Mombasa B, pressed on and successfully navigated between Larak and Qeshm Islands, which is an Iran-approved route into the Persian Gulf. It has not communicated a specific destination yet.
At the same time, the Khairpur, a Pakistani oil product tanker, was moving through the Iranian corridor toward the Gulf after changing its course twice on Sunday. The vessel originally made a U-turn near Larak and Qeshm Islands before turning around again to continue its journey.
The reasons behind these turnarounds are unclear, especially since both Iraq and Pakistan had previously received permission from Iran to use the strait. However, the change in plans coincided with negotiators in Islamabad announcing their failure to secure an agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route, and its effective closure since the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran six weeks ago has caused significant supply disruptions. The reopening of the strait has been a major topic during recent negotiations, though it remains contentious.
In recent days, multiple ships have attempted to pass through the strait only to abandon their efforts, illustrating the fluctuating security situation and the ongoing risks involved. Most vessels have been trying to leave the Persian Gulf, but there is also a demand for empty tankers to be filled with new cargoes.
Two Chinese container ships turned back late last month before finally exiting successfully, while a liquefied natural gas carrier also reversed course last week.
Successful transit of all three crude tankers on Sunday would have indicated a positive trend in traffic through the waterway, which is controlled by Iran and primarily serviced by Iran-linked vessels since late February. On Saturday, two Chinese supertankers and a Greek vessel left the Gulf via Hormuz, carrying crude.
The Agios Fanourios I is managed by Eastern Mediterranean Maritime in Greece, while Shalamar is owned by Pakistan National Shipping Corp. Both companies did not respond immediately to requests for comments sent outside of business hours.
The Mombasa B recently changed its name from Front Forth. It is owned by Haut Brion 8 SA, which shares the same address as its South Korea-based manager, Sinokor Maritime Co. Sinokor also did not reply to a request for comment outside of standard business hours.