Russian superyacht sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade

A superyacht linked to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key allies has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing blockade of the critical shipping channel.

The 142m-long (465 feet) Nord luxury boat, linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, travelled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman over the weekend, one of a few private vessels to transit through the strait in recent months.

Iran has engaged with Russia in high-level talks this week as its standoff with the US over the strait's re-opening continues.

Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies normally pass through the waterway.

Mordashov, who has close ties to Putin, is not listed as the formal owner of the luxury boat. However, Nord's records indicate it was registered to a firm owned by his wife in 2022.

Nord, estimated to be worth over $500m (£370m), left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj, a marina in Oman's capital, on Sunday morning, according to data on the Marine Traffic platform.

Maritime traffic through the Gulf channel is currently at a fraction of pre-war levels.

The conflict has contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, with the global benchmark Brent crude rising to $109 (£80) a barrel on Monday.

Iran has continued restricting shipping through the vital waterway after President Donald Trump announced US forces would impose a blockade on Iranian ports.

The Russian-flagged Nord managed to clear the strait despite private vessels largely avoiding the waterway since the outbreak of hostilities.

While long-term peace negotiations stall between the two sides, Tehran has this week focused its diplomatic efforts on cementing its relationship with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted an Iranian delegation in St Petersburg on Monday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hailed their "strategic relationship".

Putin told Araghchi that the Iranian people were "courageously fighting" for their sovereignty in the face of American and Israeli pressure, Russian state-run news agency Tass reported.

Araghchi shared photos on X showing him smiling and shaking hands with Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

He wrote: "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."

The Russian superyacht has a swimming pool, submarine and helipad, according to a profile in the magazine Superyacht Times.

Mordashov has been targeted by western sanctions, including from the UK, US and European Union since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Hong Kong and the Maldives have previously not seized the yacht despite calls from western nations to freeze his assets.

Mordashov is the chairman of the steel company Severstal, with Forbes estimating his net worth at about $37bn (£27.3bn). It is not clear if he was on board Nord while it passed through the Strait of Hormuz.