The tanker 'Majestic X' is transferring a cargo of seized Iranian crude oil to the United States. This cargo includes nearly six million barrels of oil with an approximate value of $600 million. The tanker tracking company 'Tanker Trackers' has reported that these shipments are passing through the Atlantic Ocean "quietly".
Details of the cargo and the tankers' route
According to 'Tanker Trackers', although no further details have been provided about the number of tankers and the final destination of these shipments, earlier reports indicated that the tanker 'Majestic X' was heading towards the state of Texas. This tanker is carrying about 1.88 million barrels of Iranian oil worth approximately $200 million.
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Maritime data analysis shows that 'Majestic X' and the tanker 'Tiffany' are currently moving from near the coastal waters of South America towards the port of Galveston in Texas. Another tanker named 'Skyview', which was seized earlier this spring, remains in Asian waters.
Background of seizures and sanctions
The United States seized several tankers linked to Iranian oil exports in the Indian Ocean this spring, and reports published in May referred to the seizure of 'Skyview' and its connection to the transfer of Iranian oil. The tanker 'Majestic X', which previously operated under the name 'Phoenix', was seized by U.S. authorities in April while heading towards China.
The U.S. Department of Defense had previously stated that maritime operations to disrupt sanction-violating networks would continue consistently, and international waters should not become a refuge for sanctioned vessels.
The transfer of these shipments occurs at a time when Iranian crude oil exports have been severely restricted in recent weeks. According to Reuters, for about seven weeks, no significant shipment of Iranian crude oil has passed through the Strait of Hormuz towards China.
As of the publication of this news, U.S. officials and the Islamic Republic have not responded to the recent report about the transfer of nearly six million barrels of seized Iranian oil to the United States.
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