Passing Iran: Russian billionaire’s yacht sails through the Strait of Hormuz
27 April 00:21
The yacht belonging to Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov, owner of Severstal, sailed unimpeded through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed to shipping since the start of the U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing NBC News.
According to data from the traffic tracking services Vesselfinder and Marinetraffic, the 142-meter superyacht Nord departed from Dubai on April 24 and set course for Oman, passing through the strait on the night of April 25. Along with the yacht, two tankers subject to U.S. sanctions, five cargo ships (including one Iranian vessel), and a passenger ferry from Oman crossed the strait.
Mordashov topped Forbes’ list of Russia’s wealthiest individuals this week. The magazine estimated his fortune at $37 billion. For the first time in the history of the ranking, the Russian billionaire’s net worth exceeded the $30 billion mark. The billionaire is subject to sanctions from the U.S., the U.K., and the European Union.
The yacht Nord was built at the German shipyard Lürssen and re-registered in Russia after the sanctions were imposed. The day before, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow announced that Tehran had made an exception for Russian vessels, allowing them to pass through the strait without paying tolls.
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
Since the start of the US and Israeli military operation against Iran, Tehran has announced the closure of the strait. In response, the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the coastline. They also warned that they would pursue ships of Iran’s “shadow fleet” even in international waters. On April 17, the Iranian side announced the reopening of the waterway to commercial vessels—this occurred after Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire with the Hezbollah group. However, Iran soon revoked the permission, accusing Washington of “piracy.” On April 19, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that ship traffic would resume after the U.S. lifts its naval blockade.
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