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 the caller U.S. blockade connected its ports, maritime quality steadfast Windward AI says.

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

"Iranian lipid organisation 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," the steadfast determined.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. forces began implementing the blockade astatine 10 a.m. ET April 13 aft Trump vowed to artifact "any and each ships from trying to participate oregon leave" the 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 the oversea arsenic cargo ships, successful the background, sail done the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz disconnected the United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo)

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

"During the archetypal 48 hours of the 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 with absorption from U.S. forces to crook astir and instrumentality toward an Iranian larboard oregon coastal area," CENTCOM wrote connected X.

Fox News was besides told each 9 vessels were lipid tankers. None of the vessels ordered to crook astir needed to beryllium boarded by U.S. forces, a elder U.S. defence authoritative said.

On the archetypal "full day" of the blockade, April 14, however, nether progressive U.S. enforcement, Windward noted vas behaviour indicating "a fragmented and uneven effect to the blockade."

"Initial movements amusement a operation of continued transit, way deviation and imaginable evasion," the steadfast said.

MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0

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

"Sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels stay active, with immoderate proceeding done the Strait portion others delay, reverse people oregon set routing patterns.

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

CENTCOM said the blockade would use lone to maritime postulation entering and exiting Iranian ports.

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

The blockade connected the cardinal commercialized way would beryllium enforced "impartially" against immoderate vessels entering oregon departing Iranian ports, including those successful the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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 the Larak Island corridor and alternatively aligned with the alternate outbound way projected by Iran.

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