Chinese Tankers Turn Back from Challenging U.S. Blockade, Others Pass Strait Safely

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Chinese Tankers Turn Back from Challenging U.S. Blockade, Others Pass Strait of Hormuz Safely
An infographic titled "US warships around the Strait of Hormuz" created in AnkarYasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty
John Hayward14 Apr 2026345
4:40
Tuesday was the first full day of the U.S. blockade of Iran and the first day after the United States declared the Strait of Hormuz was open to international shipping.

According to ship tracking data, at least eight ships passed through the strait, which remains far below its pre-war level of about 130 ships per day. Two sanctioned tankers linked to China appear to have changed their minds about challenging the United States Navy and reversed course.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said over 10,000 American sailors, airmen, and Marines are involved in the blockade, working from over a dozen warships. In addition to enforcing the blockade, these U.S. forces are “supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and six merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM reported.

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