Exclusive: U.S. adopts Iranian smuggling tactic to covertly export Gulf oil

• The operation uses two primary transfer locations off Fujairah (UAE) and Sohar (Oman), with ships sailing 'dark' (transponders off) and spacing departures 3,000-4,000 meters apart to avoid detection
• Approximately 90 million barrels of oil have moved through this network since early May, though this remains far below the pre-war average of 20 million barrels daily through the Strait of Hormuz
• The U.S. is adopting 'dark fleet' techniques previously used by Iran, China, Russia and North Korea to evade sanctions, representing a significant tactical shift in response to Iran's closure of roughly one-fifth of global oil transit

Summary: U.S. Conducts Covert Ship-to-Ship Oil Transfers in Gulf of Oman

The U.S. military has overseen a secretive operation involving ship-to-ship oil transfers near the Strait of Hormuz since early May 2026, utilizing tactics previously employed by sanctioned nations like Iran. At least 92 ships have participated in the operation, with transfers occurring at two primary locations off Fujairah (UAE) and Sohar (Oman).

Key Operational Details:

• Tankers operate with disabled transponders and dimmed lights, maintaining 3,000-4,000 meter spacing
• Transfers to Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) take 24-40 hours to complete
• As of June 11, 17 pairs of ships were conducting simultaneous transfers
• Approximately 90 million barrels of crude and petroleum products have moved through the network since early May, though this remains significantly below pre-war flows of 20 million barrels daily through the strait

Critical Incident:

An Apache helicopter was shot down by Iran on June 9 while involved in the operation, though the U.S. Central Command denied forces are participating in such transfers. Both crew members were rescued.

Key Participants:

Major involvement from Gulf state-owned fleets, including UAE's ADNOC and Kuwait Oil Tanker Company. Greek operator Dynacom Tankers Management also plays a significant role on the receiving end.

Market Context:

Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—through which one-fifth of global oil consumption normally passes—has created historic supply chain disruptions and spurred global inflation. President Trump announced a deal to reopen the strait on Friday, though details remain unclear.

The operation, while helping restore some Gulf oil flows, carries significant collision and geopolitical risks due to darkened navigation and Iranian drone/missile threats.