Vietnam asks US to allow ‘extremely important’ oil tanker to slip past Hormuz blockade

PetroVietnam Oil, the trading arm of the state energy company, confirmed to US Naval Forces Central Command that it owned the cargo on the Agios Fanourios I and that it was loaded in Iraq, according to a letter. The vessel is still signalling its destination as Nghi Son, home to a refinery in the Asian country.

“This cargo is of extreme importance to Nghi Son Refinery, to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to the Vietnamese people,” the letter said. “Any further delay risks halting refinery throughput, with cascading consequences for millions of Vietnamese consumers, businesses, public services and industries.”

US Central Command said the navy turned the vessel around “to enforce the blockade against Iran which is meant to prevent transit by any vessels going to or from Iranian ports”.