Over 50 Iranian tankers carrying oil have been halted in the Persian Gulf due to the maritime blockade imposed by the United States. The non-partisan NGO "United Against Nuclear Iran" (UANI) has announced in its latest update on the transportation situation that these tankers are navigating near the shores of Iran.
Details of the Blockade and Its Impact on Iran's Oil Exports
Following the collapse of the agreement to establish a deal, the U.S. Navy established a blockade in mid-July in the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz to bring Iran's oil exports to zero and exert pressure on negotiations. Since early October, UANI has identified at least 50 tankers carrying Iranian oil, primarily consisting of crude oil as well as petrochemical products and liquefied gas. Reports indicate that a group of 16 oil tankers is located near Khark Island, which is a key oil export terminal for Iran in the Persian Gulf.
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Number of Tankers and Changes in Oil Loading
According to received information, a total of 11 loaded tankers have anchored east of Khark Island, and five other tankers are located south of the island. Since the reinstatement of the maritime blockade on July 14, UANI has tracked at least 39 oil and petrochemical loadings from Iran, eight of which have been from Khark Island. However, these loadings have been unable to break the U.S. blockade.
Meanwhile, Iranian-flagged tankers that have been emptied after STS transfers are navigating in various ports across the Indian and Pacific Oceans instead of returning to Iranian ports. While Iran has publicly resisted and claims it will find ways to circumvent the U.S. blockade, ship tracking services estimate that Iran's oil exports in August have significantly decreased compared to last year.
Crude oil loadings in Iran in August have dropped to 250,000 barrels per day (bpd), and loadings in September have reached zero for the first time since the onset of the war. This preliminary information is based on tanker tracking estimates, indicating a critical situation for Iran's oil exports.
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