A luxury yacht associated with a sanctioned Russian billionaire connected to the Kremlin has navigated through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s closure of the waterway. The superyacht, named Nord and reportedly linked to Russian steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, successfully traversed the strait over the weekend, a route that has become less frequented due to ongoing tensions between the US and Iran impacting global shipping. Tracking data reveals that the 465-foot yacht, valued at over £368 million, departed a marina in Dubai on Friday afternoon.
After crossing the volatile strait early Saturday, the vessel arrived in Muscat on Sunday morning, as reported by the tracking platform MarineTraffic. It remains unclear how the extravagant yacht obtained permission to pass through the strait, which has faced significant restrictions imposed by Iran since February, affecting a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply traffic.
A spokesperson for Alexey Mordashov declined to provide comments on the matter. With limited daily traffic passing through the strait amid the ongoing US-Iran ceasefire, the number of vessels transiting daily has significantly decreased compared to pre-war levels. The US has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports, further impacting maritime activities in the region. Notably, Russia and Iran have strengthened their strategic ties through various agreements, including enhanced intelligence and security cooperation.
In related diplomatic developments, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin following mediation efforts in Pakistan and Oman over the weekend. While Mordashov, believed to have close ties with Putin, is not officially listed as the yacht’s owner, shipping data and corporate filings indicate that the vessel was registered in 2022 to a Russian company owned by his wife, based in Cherepovets where Mordashov’s steel corporation, Severstal, is headquartered.
Following sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union due to alleged connections to the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nord, one of the world’s largest yachts, features luxurious amenities including 20 staterooms, a swimming pool, helipad, and a submarine. US President Trump has responded to Iran’s recent peace proposal but has postponed nuclear discussions until the conclusion of the conflict due to unresolved concerns. The proposed agreement aims to first reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz before addressing more complex issues such as nuclear enrichment.
However, Trump reportedly expressed discontent with the proposal, citing inadequate measures to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iranian sources suggest that the proposed plan prioritizes resolving immediate conflicts before addressing nuclear discussions, outlining a three-step plan involving halting attacks, lifting naval blockades, and resuming talks on nuclear issues.