London, United Kingdom – Web Desk: Three Iranian oil tankers carrying approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite reported US sanctions, according to marine analytics firm Kpler.
International media reports said the vessels — Deep Sea, Sonia I, and Diona — departed from Iran’s Kharg Island and passed through the strategic waterway on Wednesday.
These tankers are among vessels subject to US sanctions. According to the report, this marks the first known transit of Iranian crude-laden tankers through the Strait of Hormuz since the Starla on April 10.
Maritime tracking data indicates that the ships’ AIS transponders were turned off, limiting real-time visibility of their movements. Their last recorded signals were detected nearly a month ago near the Strait of Malacca.
However, Kpler confirmed the movement using satellite imagery analysis, verifying that the vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
The final destination of the shipments remains unclear. Historically, such cargoes have been delivered to hubs near Singapore or transferred at sea before being transported onward, often toward China via intermediary tankers.
The development highlights ongoing challenges in monitoring sanctioned oil flows and the continued complexity of global energy supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.
