Sanctioned Iranian Oil Tankers Bypass U.S. Gulf Blockade
Three sanctioned Iranian oil tankers carrying a combined five million barrels of crude navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to the maritime tracking firm Kpler.
The departure of the vessels, identified as the Deep Sea, Sonia I, and Diona, marks the first confirmed exit of Iranian crude shipments since the United States imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports on Monday to halt Tehran's oil exports.
Because the tankers' tracking transponders were disabled, Kpler utilized satellite imagery to verify their movements from Kharg Island.
While their final destinations are unconfirmed, historical data indicates these specific vessels frequently transfer cargoes near Singapore to ships bound for northern China.
Since March 1, over 62 million barrels of Iranian crude have been transferred through similar ship-to-ship operations in the Singapore area.