Since July of this year, Iran has successfully exported shipments of liquefied gas and aviation fuel. This comes at a time when the U.S. has claimed a maritime blockade against Iran. Some of the shipments have been transferred through ship-to-ship transfers near the coast of Oman.
Details of Oil Shipments
According to maritime tracking data, Iran has managed to export about 4.1 million barrels of liquefied gas and aviation fuel since mid-July. At least eight tankers carrying Iranian liquefied gas have left the Sea of Oman. Additionally, analysis of satellite images and data from the maritime information company Simax shows that a tanker carrying aviation fuel reached Myanmar in September.
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Sanctions and Transfer Routes
According to maritime security information, six out of the eight tankers carrying liquefied gas and the tanker carrying aviation fuel are under U.S. sanctions. These sanctions have been imposed due to the transfer of Iranian oil and petrochemical products. Most liquefied gas shipments have gone to the outer limits of Malaysian ports for further ship-to-ship transfers after leaving the Sea of Oman. Estimates suggest that the final destination of these shipments is likely China.
However, it should be noted that these shipments represent only a small fraction of Iran's previous energy exports and do not signify a resumption of large-scale oil exports from the country. Data from Kpler shows that Iran's crude oil exports fell to zero in September, marking the first month without recorded shipments since the company began monitoring in 2013.
The U.S. Central Command has stated that the maritime blockade remains in effect, and a U.S. military official has indicated that the passage of a ship through the area does not necessarily mean circumventing the blockade. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department has warned against relying on ship tracking data, stating that some vessels may misrepresent their location or use false identities.
Read more: Decline in Iranian Oil Exports Due to Sanctions and Change in Shipment Routes · Iran Continues to Export Liquefied Gas and Jet Fuel
