Multiple reports citing Reuters and shipping data describe a U.S.-linked offshore oil-transfer operation near the edge of the Strait of Hormuz that reportedly mirrors tactics long used by Iran to evade sanctions. The approach involves “shuttling” crude between vessels through ship-to-ship transfers rather than relying solely on direct, conventional routing. According to the accounts, the transfers are conducted off the coasts of Oman and the UAE and are supported by shipping data and satellite or other imagery.
One report says the scheme has been used to move about 90 million barrels of oil out of the Gulf. Another reports that at least 116 ships are involved in the shuttling technique, based on observed activity. The reports frame the objective as maintaining Gulf crude exports while responding to regional conditions that include disruption and restrictions associated with the Strait of Hormuz.
While the reporting characterizes the method as Iran-style and covert, the sources also note that such reliance on clandestine transfers can introduce vulnerabilities and raise questions about enforcement and operational risk. The articles do not provide full details on authorization or legal findings in the materials summarized here.
