A second US-sanctioned supertanker has made its way into the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington tightens its blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports.
Shipping data obtained by Reuters shows the VLCC RHN entered the Gulf on Wednesday.
The move comes just a day after another sanctioned tanker, Alicia, also passed through the same waters.
The Alicia is reportedly heading toward Iraq, according to tracking data.
The development lands in the middle of rising tension at sea, where the US says it has been actively turning vessels away since the blockade began earlier this week.
United States Central Command claims around 10 ships have already been redirected and insists none have successfully slipped through.
Iranian media, however, is pushing back on that narrative, saying at least one Iranian-linked tanker managed to cross the Strait and head toward the Imam Khomeini port despite the restrictions.
For now, it’s unclear where the RHN is headed.
The empty tanker, capable of carrying up to two million barrels of crude, has previously been linked to Iranian oil shipments, according to shipping intelligence reports.
The situation highlights how difficult enforcement remains in one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors.
While the U.S. is warning of tougher secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil, analysts say Iran still has room to keep production steady in the short term by relying on storage, even if exports come under pressure.
In the background, diplomatic signals continue, with reports suggesting Iran has floated proposals that could allow shipping to move more freely through parts of the Strait if broader negotiations with Washington succeed.
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