Iranian Oil Tankers Defy US Blockade, Cross Strait of Hormuz
Maritime tracking firm Kpler detected the passage of four Iranian-flagged oil tankers carrying a total of seven million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on June 1, marking a significant development since Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s blockade of the strait.
The four tankers – Hilda I, Amber, Silvia 1, and Happiness I – had loaded their cargo in mid-April at Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil terminal, through which 90% of the country’s crude oil normally transits. The ships then crossed the Strait of Hormuz on June 1 with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders turned off.
Kpler relies primarily on satellite imagery to track ships transporting raw materials. According to the firm, the four oil tankers typically transport Iranian crude to an offshore area off the coasts of Malaysia and Singapore, where they transfer the cargo at sea to other tankers tasked with delivering it to the final customer, often in China.
Tehran adopted this practice to circumvent international sanctions. The four tankers had initially continued their operations despite the conflict with Israel and the United States but had paused operations since April 13, when Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
US Military Announces Action Against Oil Tanker
The US military regularly announces actions against oil tankers attempting to violate the blockade. On June 2, the US announced that it had disabled an oil tanker by firing on its engine room to prevent it from reaching Kharg Island. This was the sixth vessel damaged by US military forces as part of the blockade.
Despite the US efforts to enforce the blockade, Iranian oil tankers continue to defy the restrictions and transport crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The recent passage of four tankers carrying a total of seven million barrels of oil highlights the ongoing challenge faced by Washington in its bid to restrict Iran’s oil exports.
The development comes as tensions between the US and Iran remain high, with both sides engaged in a cat-and-mouse game over the Strait of Hormuz. While the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran continues to find ways to circumvent the restrictions and transport crude oil through the strait.
Original Article: Iranian oil leaves Gulf despite US blockade: Monitor — Straitstimes