The U.S.-sanctioned supertanker Yuri halted its transit through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the tightening U.S. blockade that has left traffic at a standstill. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil flows, and recent U.S. actions have intensified pressure on Iranian shipping. Yuri, carrying 2 MMbbl of crude from Kharg Island, paused near Larak Island after disappearing from tracking systems for days. The U.S. Central Command posted that 33 vessels had been redirected since the blockade began, and American forces intercepted two Iranian oil tankers earlier this week. The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for being involved in Iran's petroleum exports. Meanwhile, another U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has reappeared on tracking platforms in the Strait of Malacca near Singapore, laden with crude and not indicating a clear destination. The Iranian-flagged Helm loaded from Kharg Island in late March and was estimated to have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in early April, with its transponder turned off. Bloomberg News could not immediately determine if the supertanker had managed to sail out from the Gulf of Oman before the U.S. blockade started on April 13. Iran has also been seeking to strengthen its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, shooting at commercial ships and seizing at least two vessels in the world's key oil channel. The double blockade has seen attempted transits plunge. A bulk carrier that delivered food to Iran was observed sailing near Yuri heading toward Hormuz on Thursday, but it then made a U-turn in the strait and is now heading back into the Persian Gulf. Several hours before, a container ship that had departed from Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port city in the strait, was seen sailing south into the Gulf of Oman. The vessel had entered the strait four days ago. There were no contact details listed for the ship's unidentified manager or owner on maritime database Equasis.