[Regnum] Nearly 20 Iran-linked vessels have breached the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since it was imposed. This was reported on April 22 by the British publication The Financial Times (FT), citing monitoring data.
According to the report, at least 19 Iran-linked tankers passed through the blockade zone and exited the Persian Gulf. Additionally, at least 15 more vessels entered the Persian Gulf, heading toward Iran from the Arabian Sea.
At least six of the ships were carrying Iranian crude oil, with a total volume exceeding 10 million barrels.
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More than 10 countries have asked the United States to extend permission to purchase oil from Russia.
More than 10 countries have asked the United States to extend its temporary authorization to purchase Russian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced this at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 22.
"Representatives from more than 10 countries, some of the most vulnerable and facing the greatest energy shortages, have approached me and asked us to extend this authorization. And it's only for 30 days," Bessent noted.
After the US and Israel began military action against Iran on February 28, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was blocked. This led, among other things, to problems with energy supplies. Consequently, on April 18, the US Treasury suspended sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil until May 16. Transactions were permitted for the "sale, delivery, and unloading of crude oil and refined products from the Russian Federation" loaded onto any vessel, including sanctioned vessels, until April 17.
On April 19, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the US had extended its license for oil from Russia at the request of G20 members. He also noted that the US would reinstate its ban on Russian oil supplies at some point.
Commenting on the situation, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia remains a responsible and important player in the energy market. He added that energy markets are currently experiencing challenging times, making it difficult to ignore Russian raw material volumes.
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Iran reported the detention of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian military forces detained two vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported on April 22 by the Tasnim news agency.
According to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Command, the vessels were moving without the necessary permission, thereby creating a danger.
"Two offending vessels, the MSC-Francesca (linked to the Zionist regime (Israel. - Ed.)) and the Epaminodes, were detained by the IRGC Navy," the statement said.
The vessels were sent to the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic to check documents and cargo.