US authorities employ a technique previously used by Iran to secretly extract oil from the Gulf region.

A US Apache helicopter, previously engaged in a ship-to-ship operation, fell to Iranian forces on June 9. Maritime convoys operate under the cover of darkness, utilizing disabled transponder signals and maintaining a safe distance between vessels at 3,000-4,000 meters.

US authorities have been conducting a clandestine operation, utilizing a tactic previously employed by Iran, to ensure the continued flow of Gulf region energy exports through secretive ship-to-ship oil transfers.

A clandestine operation is underway near the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing a method previously employed by Iran to evade economic restrictions.

Sources close to the operation have pinpointed two key sites where clandestine oil shipments occur, including a location near Fujairah in the UAE and another situated off Oman's Sohar port.

Shipping records and satellite images analyzed by indicate that over 116 vessels participated in clandestine operations beginning in early May.

Satellite images obtained by reveal a striking pattern in the Gulf of Oman: as of Tuesday morning, twelve ship-to-ship pairings were visible side-by-side, with eight located off Sohar's coast in Oman and four near Fujairah. On June 11, the activity reached its peak, with seventeen pairs of ships observed engaging in simultaneous oil transfers at both locations, according to images from that specific day.

Sources indicate that an Apache helicopter involved in the mission was destroyed by Iran on June 9, prompting retaliatory U.S. bombings. The aircraft's involvement has been confirmed by four sources, including a former U.S. official familiar with the incident. Satellite images analyzed by revealed six pairs of tanker ships congregated near the Sohar port on that same day.

US authorities have been using a tactic previously employed by Iran to extract oil from the Gulf region without detection. A US defense official clarified that no Central Command forces are involved in an offshore ship-to-ship oil transfer operation when questioned about it. Two crew members were safely rescued by a drone boat, according to U.S. officials.

Details surrounding ship-to-ship transfers remain largely unexplored, including their operational dynamics and the Apache's involvement. Queries regarding these transfers were directed to Centcom by the White House. Iran's government declined to provide comments on the transfer operation despite multiple request attempts.

In the Gulf of Oman, near the exit of the Strait of Hormuz, two strategic locations have become hotspots for clandestine oil transfers. These areas are situated within the boundaries defined by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a newly formed Iranian entity tasked with overseeing the Hormuz Strait's management. Any vessel refusing to adhere to Iran's directives faces the ominous threat of drone and missile strikes from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Under constant Iranian bombardment, the Fujairah port has become a focal point for this US-led operation. A recent incident, reported by Vanguard, a British maritime risk management group, saw an "unknown projectile" hit a tanker off Oman's coast on the weekend. Fortunately, the crew escaped unharmed and although some cargo leaked due to the impact, no environmental harm occurred. The tanker in question had not been involved in any ship-to-ship transfers at the time of the incident, according to Vanguard's statement.

The US-Israeli conflict prompted Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that accounts for about one-fifth of global oil imports, leading to a massive energy crisis and subsequent price hikes worldwide. This unprecedented disruption sparked widespread economic instability globally.

Normal oil flows from the Gulf are being attempted to be restored through ship-to-ship transfers, despite their inherent risks and inefficiencies. These transfers seem to be part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to facilitate the resumption of oil exports. According to President Donald Trump, the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen on Friday under a framework peace deal with Iran announced this week, although specific details remain unclear at present.

According to a probe released on May 20, Iranian authorities have set up their own network for guiding vessels through the other side of the Strait, utilizing island checkpoints, diplomatic agreements, and occasionally levied charges.

U.S. military personnel oversee all aspects of American transfer operations, according to multiple sources, including a private security contractor with firsthand experience in these transfers.

Tankers must first gather at a designated rendezvous before entering the strait, ensuring they maintain a safe distance of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 meters from one another, as corroborated by satellite imagery and insider accounts. Meanwhile, their tracking devices remain inactive and navigation lights are significantly reduced in intensity.

US military personnel track tanker movements through a network of predefined checkpoints, yet they remain under constant surveillance, according to an anonymous source.

As they navigate through the strait, just beyond the designated Iranian-controlled zone, the tankers dock alongside receiving vessels, often Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), to initiate oil transfers. This process typically spans between 24 and 40 hours. Following completion, the empty tankers reverse course, while the newly loaded VLCCs continue their journey through the strait.

The success of this ship-to-ship operation hinges on a small number of shippers who risk navigating their ships through the narrow strait to reach waiting tankers, defying Iran's blockade efforts.

The operation carries significant risks. According to Noam Raydan, a maritime risk expert at the Washington Institute, Iran's tactics could be employed by adversaries in US operations, potentially employing drones or gunboats to impede ship transit through strategic waterways.

Iran's ship-to-ship tactic has been employed for years as a means of circumventing sanctions by concealing the origin of the oil. Typically, the Iranians operate in pairs, utilizing this strategy to evade detection while also adhering to their pre-war export levels. The U.S.-led operation, which entails large-scale transfers, provides Gulf producers with enhanced security against potential Iranian reprisals, allowing them to transport crude, condensate, and petroleum products to international customers.

Satellite imagery obtained by reveals a pattern of clandestine oil transfers between Iranian-controlled tankers and international ships from May 2 to June 11. Shipping records analyzed by LSEG and Kpler confirm multiple instances of these clandestine meetings among vessels in the region over the same timeframe.

According to visual evidence up to June 11, estimated a minimum of 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products had been transported via the offshore system from early May onwards.

Tanker capacities remain significantly lower than pre-war averages, with approximately 20 million barrels still passing through the Strait each day in smaller volumes.

The United States is employing tactics previously used by adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to circumvent sanctions. These nations' "dark fleets" had perfected this method of sending ships through strategic waterways without activating transponders. According to Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, this shift in strategy is particularly noteworthy given its similarity to those used by countries with which the US has strained relations. This development was noted by Froman in a written statement released on Friday.

Sources close to the operation confirm that US support for participating ships involves a mix of aerial monitoring, vessel inspections, and tracking, rather than providing naval escorts. No evidence was uncovered suggesting direct involvement by US military personnel in the transfer process itself.

Shipping records reveal that international tanker operators hold significant sway over the operation's receiving end. Dynacom Tankers Management, a Greek company, has publicly acknowledged seeking innovative methods for transporting oil through the strait since hostilities commenced on February 28.

At a Capital Link shipping conference in Athens on June 1, George Procopiou emphasized that unimpeded navigation is an indispensable principle. Dynacom's founder drew on Greece's rich history of defying blockades since ancient times when he stated that his company exists solely to serve. He chose not to elaborate further, but suggested that the implications were clear from his previous statements.

Dynacom declined to provide an immediate response regarding the reported U.S. covert extraction method.

The introduction of this new system has also raised concerns among some maritime stakeholders.

Shipping industry insiders reveal a concerning lack of dependable information. Communication transponders, used to track vessels' locations, are deliberately disabled, and companies are bypassing standard reporting channels. This creates a hazardous situation, as ships navigate through darkness with extinguished lights, traveling at speeds that make quick changes in course extremely difficult, according to multiple industry experts who have spoken out on the issue.

Sources close to the matter revealed that individuals requesting access must first pass a thorough vetting procedure, which involves submitting sensitive data to the US Navy's Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping office in Bahrain prior to receiving transit authorization windows.

Operators must furnish thorough geospatial monitoring records, detailed ownership information, shipping paperwork, and consent for cargo inspection as per two examined compliance papers.

Vessels cleared for participation will receive designated transit slots and maintain continuous communication with the U.S. military liaison in Bahrain during their journey.

Shipping records analyzed by reveal that Emirati exports comprise a significant portion of the US transfer operation. Sources confirm that ADNOC, the UAE's state-owned national oil company, is one of the leading participants in these US-led transactions.

Kuwait Oil Tanker Company has been involved in clandestine extraction operations. Data from TankerTrackers.com reveals that 2.3 million barrels of crude oil were secretly extracted from one of its vessels near Sohar on June 6, a peak day for such transactions. The Sea Ruby, the ship receiving this cargo, was later spotted five days after the extraction off India's southwest coast, en route to China where it would unload the stolen fuel.

Enquiries from our team regarding the matter were met with silence by the UAE authorities and two other entities.

Raydan expressed skepticism about finding a lasting resolution to the situation, describing it as a stopgap measure for extraordinary circumstances.