US-Sanctioned Tanker Tests Trump Blockade With Hormuz Exit

By Weilun Soon

Apr 14, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China is sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf of Oman, testing President Donald Trump’s naval blockade.

Rich Starry, a medium-range tanker earlier known as Full Star, was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for helping Tehran evade energy sanctions. It is not clear on this occasion whether it visited Iranian ports before its transit, or is carrying cargo.

The exit is a second attempt for the carrier, which began a first as the US blockade came into effect on Monday, only to