Web Desk: The United States reportedly adopted Iran-style oil transfer methods during a period of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz to keep crude exports flowing from Gulf producers, according to a Reuters investigation.
In a detailed special report, the news agency Reuters said the US military oversaw a network of covert ship-to-ship oil transfers designed to maintain supply routes during the temporary closure of the strategic waterway.
The report states that the system involved smaller tankers moving crude oil from Gulf terminals to designated offshore locations, where it was then transferred to larger vessels for international shipment. The method closely resembled techniques previously associated with Iranian operations used to bypass sanctions.
According to Reuters, the operation began in early May 2026 and involved at least 92 vessels. Satellite imagery and shipping data reportedly identified discreet transfer points near the UAE’s Fujairah coast and Oman’s Sohar port, where nighttime operations and reduced visibility measures were observed.
Some vessels allegedly switched off transponders during transit, while others limited lighting at sea — tactics commonly linked in past reports to so-called “shadow fleet” activities. The report also claims US military assets, including drones and helicopters, were used for monitoring and coordination during the transfers.
The investigation suggests that millions of barrels of oil were moved daily through this system to prevent supply disruptions and stabilize global energy markets during the Strait of Hormuz crisis, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.
The report also referenced recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who previously claimed that oil was being “taken” during the period of closure before Iran became aware of the situation.
The findings have not been independently verified, and neither US nor Iranian authorities have formally commented on the specific operational details outlined in the report.
