Superyacht Linked to Russian Billionaire Transits Strait of Hormuz

A superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, navigating a heavily restricted shipping lane central to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, according to shipping data from the MarineTraffic platform.

The 142-meter Nord, valued at more than $500 million, departed a Dubai marina around 1400 GMT on Friday afternoon, crossed the strait early Saturday morning and arrived in Muscat, Oman, early Sunday. It remains unclear how the vessel obtained permission for the passage. A representative for Mordashov, a steel magnate and one of Russia's richest individuals, declined to comment on the yacht's journey.

Iran has sharply curtailed traffic through the strait since the war began on February 28. The waterway, at the entrance to the Gulf and a conduit for about one-fifth of the world's oil supply, now sees only a handful of mainly merchant vessels daily, compared with 125 to 140 transits before the conflict. In response, the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, as the two nations observe an uneasy ceasefire.

Russia and Iran, longstanding allies, have deepened ties in recent years, including through a 2025 treaty enhancing...