US Military Conducts Secret Oil Transfers to Bypass Iranian Blockade

The United States military is overseeing a secretive ship-to-ship oil transfer operation in the Gulf of Oman to maintain energy exports following an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Starting in early May 2026, the operation has moved approximately 90 million barrels of crude and petroleum products using at least 116 ships. To evade detection, tankers operate with dimmed lights and disabled transponders, guided by US aerial and water drones, helicopters, and a monitoring office in Bahrain.

Transfers occur primarily off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and near the port of Sohar in Oman. These high-risk missions involve state-owned fleets from the UAE and Kuwait, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, with receiving vessels often operated by international firms such as Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the military-backed effort moves around 7 million barrels of oil per day to stabilize international markets.

The operation has faced significant dangers; Iran shot down a US Apache helicopter on June 9 near Sohar, and the port of Fujairah has been subjected to repeated fire. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened drone and missile attacks against any ships defying Iranian orders. Despite these tensions, President Donald Trump announced a framework peace deal this week, stating that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen on June 21.