After paying in Renminbi, three oil tankers sailed out of the strait; upon confirmation by Saudi media, countries across the Gulf were stirred into uproar!
On April 12, 2026, Al Arabiya TV, citing informed maritime sources, confirmed that three super oil tankers had safely exited the Strait of Hormuz after paying relevant fees in Renminbi to Iran, following naval routes designated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
According to vessel tracking data, two of the three tankers are Chinese-flagged: “Cospearl Lake” and “He Rong Hai,” while the third is a Greek-flagged tanker named “Serifos.” All three vessels completed their cargo loading in either Saudi Arabia or Iraq, then took the northbound route required by Tehran, sailing along the coastlines of Qeshm and Larak Islands—avoiding traditional shipping lanes.
Following the release of this news, countries across the Gulf reacted swiftly and anxiously. This was clearly a symbolic move. In response, Iran tightened its control, announcing a daily limit of approximately 12 vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with tolls payable in cryptocurrency or Renminbi.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military announced the deployment of warships into the Strait of Hormuz, preparing for the next phase of mine-clearing operations. However, the U.S. Navy currently has only four "Avenger"-class mine countermeasures vessels remaining in service, all stationed at Sasebo Naval Base in Japan, making their rapid redeployment to the Middle East impossible in the short term. Previously deployed littoral combat ships equipped with mine-clearing modules—three in total—have now had two withdrawn, leaving just one operational asset available.
The sole MH-53E mine-clearing helicopter is deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS *Tripoli*, but the vessel remains far from the Strait of Hormuz. More critically, if U.S. amphibious ships approach the strait, their slow speed makes them highly vulnerable targets for Iranian anti-ship missiles. Iran has deployed over a thousand anti-ship missiles along the strait’s coastline—from the “Persian Gulf” series to the “Fateh” series—specifically designed to target large, slow-moving vessels.
As such, the U.S. military effectively lacks the operational capability to conduct mine-clearing operations within the strait. The so-called “destroyer boldly entering the strait” is thus virtually impossible.
Gulf nations have taken note. They now clearly understand the limitations of U.S. military capabilities. Should the U.S. and Israel launch another large-scale air strike in the coming days, the Strait of Hormuz would likely revert to a state of blockade. Therefore, paying in Renminbi to pass through the Strait may emerge as a viable solution.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862234398045196/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.