- Three vessels, officially recorded as scrapped, have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz using false identities, a tactic known as 'zombie ships'.
- The ships, including the LNG Jamal, Baltic Highway, and Nabiin, were detected in the strait despite Iran's blockade, which began on 28 February.
- Reports suggest these vessels may have used a Tehran-approved route, with one ship allegedly paying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) $2 million for safe passage through a 'Tehran Toll Booth'.
- This marks the first time such tactics are thought to have been used since the US-Israeli war against Iran began, following decades of use by North Korea and more recently Russia.
- Iran recently announced a relaxation of its blockade conditions, allowing 'non-hostile' vessels safe passage, though global fuel supplies remain choked and energy prices high.
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