Iran shifts 20M barrels through ‘dark’ offshore oil network bypassing US port blockade, firm says

Iran is moving tens of millions of barrels of lipid done covert offshore networks to bypass nan caller U.S. blockade connected its ports, maritime intelligence patient Windward AI says.

The blockade, which took effect April 13, came amid a two-week ceasefire and grounded bid talks betwixt nan U.S. and Iran, and arsenic President Donald Trump insisted nan waterway must stay open, done which astir 20% of nan world’s lipid passes.

"Iranian lipid distribution continues done indirect routing and offshore transportation networks," Windward told Fox News Digital.

"As of April 13, astatine slightest 11 tankers carrying astir 20 cardinal barrels of Iranian lipid are positioned offshore Malaysia wrong a ship-to-ship transportation hub," nan patient determined.

TRUMP DETAILS SWEEPING 'ALL OR NOTHING' BLOCKADE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AFTER FAILED IRAN TALKS

A vessel is seen passing done nan Strait of Hormuz during a two-week impermanent ceasefire betwixt nan United States and Iran connected April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)

"These vessels are apt awaiting counterpart vessels for offloading aliases preparing for onward movement."

Windward besides clarified that nan attraction highlights Iran’s "continued usage of offshore retention and transportation mechanisms."

This allows Iranian lipid flows to "persist extracurricular nonstop transit done nan Strait."

"Dark activity remains a cardinal enabler of ongoing operations, supporting some post-transit larboard calls and broader evasion strategies," Windward added.

"At nan aforesaid time, Iranian lipid flows are progressively routed done offshore hubs, reducing reliance connected nonstop Hormuz transit."

U.S. forces began implementing nan blockade astatine 10 a.m. ET April 13 aft Trump vowed to artifact "any and each ships from trying to participate aliases leave" nan strait, pursuing weeks of unit connected Tehran.

IRAN THREATENS TO HALT RED SEA TRAFFIC IN RESPONSE TO US MILITARY BLOCKADE OF PORTS

Fishing boats dot nan oversea arsenic cargo ships, successful nan background, sail done nan Arabian Gulf toward nan Strait of Hormuz disconnected nan United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo)

As antecedently reported by Fox News Digital, nan U.S. subject confirmed Wednesday it stopped 9 lipid tankers from attempting to breach nan blockade.

"During nan first 48 hours of nan U.S. blockade connected ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, nary vessels person made it past U.S. forces," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"Additionally, 9 vessels person complied pinch guidance from U.S. forces to move astir and return toward an Iranian larboard aliases coastal area," CENTCOM wrote connected X.

Fox News was besides told each 9 vessels were lipid tankers. None of nan vessels ordered to move astir needed to beryllium boarded by U.S. forces, a elder U.S. defense charismatic said.

On nan first "full day" of nan blockade, April 14, however, nether progressive U.S. enforcement, Windward noted alloy behaviour indicating "a fragmented and uneven consequence to nan blockade."

"Initial movements show a operation of continued transit, way deviation and imaginable evasion," nan patient said.

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This lipid tanker is successful a queue and is waiting for its move to get loaded by barrels of oil. Here is nan Persian Gulf successful nan southbound of Iran wherever location are numbers of Iranian and Arab lipid and state suppliers. (Farzad Frames/Getty Images)

"Sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels stay active, pinch immoderate proceeding done nan Strait while others delay, reverse people aliases set routing patterns.

"Iranian lipid flows proceed done indirect distribution networks, pinch important volumes accumulating offshore alternatively than transiting straight done Hormuz."

CENTCOM said nan blockade would use only to maritime postulation entering and exiting Iranian ports.

It stressed that U.S. forces would not "impede state of navigation" for vessels transiting nan strait to and from different destinations.

The blockade connected nan cardinal waste and acquisition way would beryllium enforced "impartially" against immoderate vessels entering aliases departing Iranian ports, including those successful nan Persian Gulf and nan Gulf of Oman.

So far, sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels proceed to run nether evolving enforcement conditions.

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Rich Starry, a U.S.-sanctioned handy-size tanker signaling laden status, resumed outbound transit aft antecedently turning around.

Windward said that its routing did not travel nan Larak Island corridor and alternatively aligned pinch nan replacement outbound way projected by Iran.

At nan aforesaid time, Murlikishan, a U.S.-sanctioned chemic tanker, was besides observed journeying inbound, Windward clarified.