A superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian billionaire has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing blockade.
Shipping data shows that the 465 feet-long Nord, which has been connected to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key allies Alexey Mordashov, travelled through the strait from Dubai to Muscat in Oman over the weekend.
Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with as many as 140 daily crossings before the conflict in the Middle East began on February 28.
Since then, Iran has choked off traffic through the strait, with daily passages currently at a fraction of pre-war levels. The result has been a sharp rise in global oil prices, with Brent crude rising to £80 a barrel on Monday.
According to data on the Marine Traffic platform, the boat, which is estimated to be worth over £370 million, left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at a marina in Muscat on Sunday morning.
It is currently unclear how the superyacht gained permission to use the route, nor whether Mordashov was on board.
While Iran continues to restrict shipping through the waterway, US President Donald Trump has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as a countermeasure.
Russia and Iran are longstanding allies and have become closer in recent years, with a 2025 treaty strengthening intelligence and security cooperation.
The two countries have been in high-level talks this week, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hosting an Iranian delegation in St Petersburg on Monday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hailed their "strategic relationship".
Russian state-run news agency Tass reported that Putin told Araghchi the Iranian people were "courageously fighting" for their sovereignty in the face of American and Israeli pressure.
Araghchi shared photos on X showing him shaking hands with Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, writing: "Recent events have evidenced the depth and strength of our strategic partnership. As our relationship continues to grow, we are grateful for solidarity and welcome Russia's support for diplomacy."
Mordashov is the chairman of Russia's largest steel and mining company Severstal. With an estimated net worth of about £27 billion, he is Russia’s richest billionaire according to the US business magazine Forbes.
He was sanctioned by the UK, US and European Union following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Mordashov is not listed as the formal owner of the luxury boat, but records indicate it was registered to a Russian firm owned by his wife in 2022 in Cherepovets, the same town as Severstal.
One of the largest yachts in the world, Nord has a swimming pool, submarine and a helipad, as well as 20 luxury cabins, according to industry magazine Superyacht Times.
