Ship-tracking data show that in the days before the U.S. announced it would
reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports, Iran covertly moved tankers through the
Strait of Hormuz. Over the past week six U.S.-sanctioned VLCCs transited into
the Gulf of Oman with AIS transponders switched off, with combined capacity of
about 12 mln barrels of crude. Since the U.S. on July 7 revoked a license
allowing temporary Iranian oil sales, additional U.S.-sanctioned, Iran-linked
vessels have been leaving the Strait; these movements are part of roughly 57 mln
barrels Iran exported between two U.S. naval blockades.
