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Two Iran-Linked Tankers Transit Eastward via Hormuz Strait, Bloomberg Analysis Shows

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Two tankers associated with Iran are moving eastward through the Strait of Hormuz ahead of the signing of an interim peace deal between Iran and the US later in the week, which is expected to reopen a vital conduit, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing ship-tracking data.

One of the vessels is in the Strait, while the other has already crossed the waterway and reached the Gulf of Oman, though it is still to exit the US blockade line, which extends from the easternmost tip of Oman to the Iran-Pakistan border, the report said.

Both the fuel carriers had their transponders turned on while passing through the conduit.

Iran is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the US has committed to end its maritime blockade once the interim peace agreement is signed in Switzerland on Friday, the report said.

Meanwhile, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday, the US military has overseen dozens of covert ship-to-ship oil transfers to keep Gulf energy exports moving, using drones and helicopters to guide waiting tankers.

The operation near the Strait of Hormuz uses a ship-to-ship transfer method that Iran has long used to bypass sanctions. The transfers take place at two locations, off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE and near the Omani port of Sohar, the report said, citing 11 people familiar with the matter.

At least 92 ships were part of the operation, which started in early May, Reuters reported, citing ship tracking data.

Satellite images reviewed by Reuters showed 17 pairs of ships conducting oil transfers simultaneously at the two sites as recently as June 11, the report added.

has reached out to the United States Central Command for a comment.

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