U.S. Military Oversees 92-Ship Covert Oil Transfers in Persian Gulf, Adopts Iran-Style Tactic

According to Reuters, the U.S. military has overseen dozens of covert ship-to-ship crude oil transfers in the Persian Gulf since early May, using drones, surface vessels, and helicopters to guide tankers to waiting ships. The operations, conducted near the Strait of Hormuz, employ a ship-to-ship transfer method long used by Iran to evade sanctions.

Two specific locations confirmed: off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, and off Sohar Port, Oman. Satellite imagery and shipping data show at least 92 vessels participated in transfers; as of June 11, 17 vessel pairs were still conducting operations at these two sites. Four sources, including a former U.S. official, confirmed that an Apache helicopter shot down by Iran on June 9 had participated in the mission. Satellite images showed six tanker pairs gathered off Sohar Port on the day the helicopter was downed.