Posted on 04/14/2026 6:05:58 AM PDT by TexasGunLover
A Chinese tanker under US sanctions passed though the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, defying Washington's naval blockade that began on Monday.
After circling the area late on Monday and initially turning back, the 600ft long vessel passed through the waterway on Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
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Should have blocked it.
Trump can’t afford to look like a loser to the Chinese.
So it didn’t hit a mine?
A Chinese flagged tanker? Ok
It will be interesting to see if the Administration and media can both conceal the Chinese refusing to provide rare earth magnets to the US in the talks upcoming next month.
Sinking a tanker would do 2 things: Erase any chance of having those for 10+ years and second, ensure China buys more Russian oil.
Trump said ships can go through the Strait unless they are going to or leaving Iranian ports. The Chinese probably just sailed on through.
Those were my first thoughts as well.
China surely has Iran’s master chart of mine locations.
Which would the Chinese prefer? Turning back their tankers, or the US bombing Iranian infrastructure at Kharg island. Give them a choice.
NFN but there’s a “By Your Leave” process vis-a-vis the U.S. Navy this tanker may have, shall we say, forgotten?, to engage in.
From AI:
Yes, some of Iran’s naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz can be remotely controlled or remotely detonated, according to available information.
The Maham 3 and Maham 7 mines are primarily influence mines that use magnetic and acoustic sensors to detect and automatically detonate when a vessel passes nearby.
However, open-source defense analyses and reports indicate that Iran possesses controlled mines capable of remote detonation, allowing operators to trigger them from a distance.
While the Maham 3 uses an electronic timer and coded sensor inputs for activation, there is no public confirmation that these specific models are actively remote-controlled in real time. Still, the broader category of Iranian naval mines includes remotely activated variants.
In summary, while most deployed mines like the Maham 3 and Maham 7 rely on automated sensor triggers, Iran’s naval arsenal does include mines that can be remotely detonated, enhancing their strategic flexibility in disrupting maritime traffic.
Bullsh!t, Iran has no clue where they’re located.
The Daily Mail again. Trump is blocking the Iranian ports not the straight. The Mail should worry more about the destruction of their own country
There likely are no mines.
Why seize an empty tanker?
right, track the tanker ,take out the terminal it loads at, it won’t load there again.
Ok, I’m confused. I thought the blockade was to stop all ships from docking at or leaving Iranian ports, and ships could still go to or leave from other Strait ports. And this ship picked up its cargo (methanol) at the UAE port of Hamriyah, as mentioned in the article, presumably going to China.
The blockade is on Iranian ports, not the entire strait.
Typical MSM obfuscation and half-truths.
AI causes confusion. It’s a hodge podge...a word salad...a meaningless attempt to promote facts that don’t exist..
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