U.S. Blockade Forces Sanctioned China-Linked Tanker to Return to Strait of Hormuz
The U.S.-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry, owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co, returned to the Strait of Hormuz after failing to bypass a U.S. blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports. President Trump announced the blockade following unsuccessful peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. During the blockade's first 24 hours, no ships managed to pass, with several vessels complying with U.S. forces' directions to return to Iranian ports. The Rich Starry, carrying methanol, was among eight ships attempting to cross the waterway. The blockade has created uncertainty for shippers, oil companies, and insurers, with traffic significantly reduced from pre-conflict levels. Iran's crude storage capacity could sustain its current output for two months if exports are halted. 
