Iran will use alternative ports to bypass the U.S. blockade, and some oil tankers have already "successfully crossed" the Strait of Hormuz.

The contest over control and defenses in the Strait of Hormuz is entering a new stage. On the first day of the blockade, the US military claimed "zero breakthrough," but the actual situation is far more complex than this statement suggests.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Iran will use alternative ports outside its southern ports to bypass the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency reported that an Iranian supertanker under US sanctions has crossed the Strait of Hormuz from international waters and entered Iranian territory, keeping its positioning system on throughout the journey and "arriving safely at its destination." The vessel is described as a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) capable of transporting 2 million barrels of crude oil.

However, the situation is much more complex than it appears. Media reports indicate that a supertanker, Agios Fanourios I, heading to Iraq is crossing the strait. If it passes smoothly, it will be the first westbound oil tanker to transit after the US blockade came into effect, but it has not stopped at Iranian ports and is an authorized vessel outside the scope of the US military blockade. Notably, sources cited by media state that Tehran is considering a temporary halt to Hormuz shipments to avoid escalation and avoid undermining ongoing US-Iran peace talks.

Alternative Port Plan: Iran Seeks Structural Bypass

Iran’s plan to use alternative ports represents the most definitive structural countermeasure so far. Mehr News Agency quoted official sources saying that Iran will use ports other than southern ports to export crude oil, circumventing US control over export channels in the Strait of Hormuz.

This deployment means Iran is shifting its shipment focus from the traditional reliance on Hormuz to other infrastructure, fundamentally reducing its dependence on that waterway. However, the material does not specify the geographic locations or capacities of the alternative ports.

"Successful Passage": Sanctioned Tankers Testing the Waters

According to Fars News Agency, a US-sanctioned VLCC has crossed the Strait of Hormuz into Iranian waters, keeping its positioning system on throughout and ultimately "arriving undisturbed" at its destination. Iran regards this as a direct breakthrough against the US blockade.

Bloomberg data paints a more complicated picture. Another sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, after setting out on Monday evening, turned around on Tuesday morning and is now signaling "awaiting instructions," typically indicating no definite docking port and that its cargo remains full. Another sanctioned VLCC Alicia is sailing between Iran’s Larak Island and Qeshm Island, with its destination alternating between "Basra, Iraq" and "awaiting instructions."

Eurasia Group analyst Gregory Brew noted that the actions of sanctioned tankers are the first true test of US determination in enforcing the blockade, with Iran using these moves to gauge the US response.

Blockade Realities: Limited Scope, Significant Deterrence

The US Central Command claims that in the first 24 hours of the blockade, "no vessel broke through," and six commercial vessels turned back to Iranian ports under US orders. The US deployed more than ten warships, over 100 aircraft, and tens of thousands of soldiers for this task.

However, maritime analytics agencies report that traffic has not been entirely shut down. Xinhua, citing UK maritime firm Windward, reported that on April 13, 10 vessels entered and 7 exited the Strait of Hormuz. Other media said that in the past 24 hours, more than 20 authorized commercial vessels that did not call at Iranian ports have passed through.

The two sets of data are not contradictory—the US blockade targets ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, not an outright ban on passage through the Strait. Bloomberg quoted International Chamber of Shipping president-elect John Denholm, stating that in theory, ships can exit the Strait via Iran’s Larak Island route as long as they do not dock at Iranian ports. However, he noted that amid unclear war conditions, such voyages remain quite risky.

Overall commercial traffic is currently only a tiny fraction of pre-war levels. The potential threats of mines, drones, and missiles are keeping most ship owners away, and market concerns over energy supply chain disruptions persist.

Diplomatic Window: Halted Shipments for Negotiation Space

As the blockade and tests proceed in parallel, Tehran is internally discussing another path—proactively halting shipments.

Previous Xinhua reports said Iran is considering a temporary halt in Hormuz shipments to avoid confrontational incidents with US forces and prevent interference with ongoing ceasefire extension talks. Insiders say this move reflects Tehran's wish to avoid immediate escalation at this sensitive diplomatic juncture.

Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, senior analyst at Control Risks in Abu Dhabi, said: "I don't think this is a major concession by Iran, but it can serve as a trust-building measure before the next round of negotiations. For Tehran, suspending shipments for a few days may yield more benefits than costs."

Rachel Ziemba, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, pointed out: "If Iran truly stops shipments, it will signal that the government is trying to deescalate and avoid restarting a hot war. Pausing shipments will briefly widen the supply gap in the oil market, but the global market may be more focused on the possibility of a deal than on short-term gaps."

Insiders also cautioned that Iran's plans remain highly uncertain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could change course at any time and opt to show the world that the US blockade can be challenged without incurring consequences—a shift that would directly impact diplomatic negotiation tracks.

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