On April 21, 2026, three ships — two cargo vessels and a fuel tanker — were seen trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even as blockades from the US and Iran remained in effect. The Shoja 2, an Iranian c...
On April 21, 2026, three ships — two cargo vessels and a fuel tanker — were seen trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even as blockades from the US and Iran remained in effect.
The Shoja 2, an Iranian cargo ship, successfully crossed the strait and entered the Gulf of Oman but has since stopped broadcasting its location. Its journey is being monitored closely after the US Navy seized another Iranian cargo vessel on Sunday. This was the first ship captured since Washington imposed a blockade on the waterway last week.
The other two ships have no clear connections to Iran. The Lian Star, flagged in Gambia, has also crossed the strait and is now heading south toward the Gulf of Oman. The Ean Spir, a medium-range tanker with no identified owner, has started sailing northeast from near Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates and is now located south of Larak Island, suggesting it is headed for Shinas in Oman.
Meanwhile, traffic in this critical waterway has nearly come to a halt after a chaotic weekend in which Iran declared the corridor open before closing it again, following the US's refusal to lift its blockade. Approximately 800 vessels are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf.
President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the American blockade would stay in place for the time being. He also mentioned that a two-week ceasefire with Iran, which is set to expire on Wednesday evening in Washington, is unlikely to be extended. Upcoming talks between the two nations are anticipated to occur in Pakistan.
Traffic through the strait has been unpredictable since the ceasefire started. On Saturday, at least three container ships from Mediterranean Shipping Co. and a MSC cruise liner, along with a few other passenger vessels, seemed to have exited the Persian Gulf, closely following the Omani coast.
On Monday, two liquefied petroleum gas carriers linked to Iran and two oil product tankers — one with Iranian connections — moved through the strait in both directions.
The Lian Star is owned and managed by Mashini S, a company located in Dubai, according to the Equasis database, though there are no contact details available for them. The Ean Spir is not listed on any country’s sanctions list, and its flag status is marked as unknown — a common practice among dark fleet tankers.