Sanctioned Russian Billionaire's Yacht Passes Through Strait of Hormuz

A superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov successfully navigated through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, according to reports from multiple outlets including Daily Mail and BBC. The vessel, named Nord, traveled from Dubai to Muscat despite severe restrictions on maritime traffic due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran standoff.

The 465-foot yacht, reportedly worth more than $500 million, departed a marina in Dubai around 2pm on Friday and arrived in Muscat early Sunday morning. According to tracking platform MarineTraffic, Nord is one of very few vessels to transit the blockaded shipping lane at the heart of the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Since February, Iran has imposed sweeping restrictions on movement through the corridor, which typically carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply. The United States responded with a blockade targeting Iranian ports, further choking maritime traffic in the region. Only a handful of ships—mostly commercial carriers—have been making the journey each day as an uneasy ceasefire between Washington and Tehran holds.

Mordashov, widely regarded as being close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is not officially listed as the yacht’s owner. However, shipping data and Russian corporate filings indicate the vessel was registered in 2022 to a Russian company owned by his wife. The oligarch has been targeted by Western sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine for his alleged links to the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Russia on Monday for talks with President Vladimir Putin, following mediation discussions held in Pakistan and Oman over the weekend. The diplomatic efforts come as Moscow and Tehran deepen ties through a 2025 agreement boosting intelligence and security cooperation.