Key facts
- The U.S. military is conducting covert ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman.
- These operations mimic Iran's long-standing tactic of using such transfers to circumvent sanctions.
- The U.S. employs aerial and water drones, helicopters, and satellite imagery to manage the transfers.
- At least 90 million barrels of oil and petroleum products have been moved since early May.
- The operation involves tankers disabling transponders and dimming lights to avoid detection.
The United States military has been conducting covert ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman, a tactic long employed by Iran to evade sanctions and maintain energy exports. This operation, which began in early May, utilizes aerial and water drones, helicopters, and satellite imagery to guide tankers and facilitate the movement of oil near the Strait of Hormuz. At least 92 ships have participated in these transfers, with satellite imagery on June 11 showing 17 simultaneous operations. The vessels involved often disable their transponders and dim their lights to avoid detection, with transfers taking between 24 and 40 hours to complete. An estimated 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products may have been moved through this network since the operation commenced. A U.S. defense official stated that no Central Command forces are directly participating in the offshore transfers. Michael Froman, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, commented on the irony of the U.S. adopting tactics previously used by Iran, China, and Russia to evade sanctions. Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers Management has also alluded to its efforts to ship oil through the strait despite the blockade.