Gulf: Oil transfers at sea carried out in utmost secrecy

The US military is reportedly using a method of transferring oil at sea reminiscent of techniques Iran has used for years to circumvent international sanctions, according to a Reuters investigation. This strategy, implemented in the Gulf, relies on discreet oil transfer operations between ships, carried out away from prying eyes and under unusual sailing conditions.

According to several sources and maritime data reviewed by Reuters, an Apache attack helicopter shot down by Iran on June 9 was participating in a mission related to these tanker-to-tank cargo transfer operations. These maneuvers involve moving oil from one ship to another at sea, a practice frequently used to conceal the origin or final destination of cargoes.

The convoys involved would sail at night with their automatic location and identification systems deactivated. The ships would also maintain a consistent distance of 3,000 to 4,000 meters between them to limit their visibility while remaining coordinated. This method strongly resembles the tactics used by some Iranian-linked shipping networks to evade international surveillance.

According to information gathered, at least 92 ships have participated in these operations since the beginning of May. Satellite images analyzed by Reuters show several vessels sailing side-by-side or conducting transfers at sea off the coast of Sohar, in the Sultanate of Oman.

These revelations come amid heightened regional tensions between Washington and Tehran. Maritime operations in the Gulf have been under increased scrutiny for several months, as the two countries have clashed indirectly in several theaters of operation in the region.

US authorities did not immediately provide details on the exact nature of these missions or the reasons that led them to adopt procedures similar to those attributed to Iranian networks. Observers believe, however, that these operations could be driven by logistical and security imperatives related to ongoing tensions in the region.

The investigation highlights the increasing complexity of oil flows in the Gulf, where strategic, military, and economic considerations are intertwined. It also underscores the difficulty for international authorities to accurately track cargo movements when ships deliberately disable their tracking systems.