Iranian oil tankers exit US naval blockade zone, tracking site reports

At least two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) have exited the US Navy blockade perimeter, according to TankerTrackers, a site that monitors oil shipments and storage. The tankers, named DIONA (9569695) and HERO2 (9362073), were carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, the tracking site said in a post on X, citing digital tracking data corroborated by satellite imagery.

TankerTrackers later added that a third NITC tanker had also exited the blockade line with an additional 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. The report, which was also covered by AFP, highlights ongoing efforts by Iran to export oil despite US sanctions and naval presence in the region.

The US has maintained a naval blockade in the region as part of its maximum pressure campaign against Iran, aiming to curb its oil exports. However, Iran has continued to find ways to ship its crude, often using methods such as ship-to-ship transfers and disabling transponders to evade detection.

According to the report by Mehr News Agency (MNA), the successful exit of these tankers demonstrates Iran's resilience in maintaining its oil export routes. The development comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US over the nuclear program and regional policies.