Key facts
- The U.S. military is conducting covert ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman.
- This operation uses tactics similar to those employed by Iran to bypass sanctions.
- At least 92 ships have been involved in these transfers since early May.
- The operation aims to keep Gulf energy exports flowing despite Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
- An Apache helicopter was reportedly involved in the mission, though the U.S. defense department denies direct participation in the transfers.
The United States military has been conducting covert ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman, employing tactics previously used by Iran to circumvent sanctions and maintain energy exports. This operation, which began in early May, involves guiding convoys of tankers to awaiting vessels for oil transfers, with at least 92 ships participating. The transfers occur at two identified locations near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint effectively closed by Iran.
The U.S. operation utilizes aerial and water drones, as well as helicopters, to facilitate the movement of oil. The technique involves tankers sailing to a meeting point, staggering departures, turning off transponders, and dimming lights. The transfers themselves take between 24 and 40 hours to complete. The U.S. military provides support through aerial surveillance, compliance screening, and monitoring, though a U.S. defense official denied direct participation in the transfers.
An Apache helicopter, reportedly involved in the mission, was downed by Iran on June 9, leading to U.S. retaliatory bombings. Reuters could not confirm the helicopter's specific role. The operation aims to restore normal oil flows from the Gulf, with an estimated 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products moved since early May. Experts note the irony of the U.S. adopting tactics previously used by nations like Iran to evade sanctions.