The United Arab Emirates has been able to sneak some of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz directly under Iran’s nose, according to experts and shipping data.
The UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Co managed to export at least 6 million barrels of its crude in April aboard four tankers sailing through the Gulf, tracking data from Kplr and SynMax showed.
The tankers were able to either unload their shipment to other vessels bound for Southeast Asia, dock in Oman, or sail directly to refineries in South Korea, three sources told Reuters.
The journey the four ships took demonstrates the risks producers and buyers are willing to take to free up oil sales despite Iran’s threats to attack any vessel daring to cross the Strait of Hormuz without its permission.
