Iran has continued exporting crude oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Tehran, sending millions of barrels toward China even as the key shipping corridor faces growing security risks.
At least 11.7 million barrels of Iranian crude have passed through the narrow waterway since the conflict began on February 28, according to vessel-tracking data from energy monitoring firm TankerTrackers.com.
All of the shipments were bound for China, analysts tracking the tankers told US broadcaster CNBC.
The continued exports highlight Iran’s determination to maintain oil flows despite threats to shipping in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The waterway has become increasingly tense since fighting erupted in late February, raising fears of supply disruptions and pushing global oil prices sharply higher.
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Satellite monitoring has shown that several tankers departing Iran have switched off their tracking systems while moving through the corridor — a practice known as “going dark” — making it harder to determine their exact routes and destinations.
According to Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, multiple vessels transporting Iranian crude have disabled their automatic identification systems amid warnings from Tehran that ships passing through the area could face attack.
Energy analytics firm Kpler estimates that roughly 12 million barrels of oil have crossed the strait since the conflict began.
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Analysts say that while not all cargo destinations can be confirmed, China remains the primary buyer of Iranian crude in recent years, suggesting most of the shipments are likely heading there.
Shipping traffic through the strait has slowed significantly since the conflict escalated. Many commercial vessels have avoided the passage altogether due to security concerns.
According to the International Maritime Organization, at least ten vessels operating in or near the strait were attacked by Iran less than two weeks into the conflict. The incidents reportedly resulted in the deaths of seven seafarers.
Despite the dangers, Iranian authorities say shipping activity continues.
“Iranian waters are safe, but tankers transiting the strait must be very careful,” a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said in comments reported by CNBC.
The majority of Iran’s crude exports traditionally depart from the Kharg Island terminal, located roughly 15 miles off the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf. The facility historically handles around 90 percent of the country’s oil exports before tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
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However, satellite tracking indicates Iran has also resumed loading crude at the Jask Oil Terminal on the Gulf of Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz.
The alternative export route allows tankers to avoid the narrow choke point and could increase Iran’s capacity to ship oil during periods of heightened security risks in the strait.
One Iranian tanker was recently observed loading approximately two million barrels of crude at the Jask terminal, marking only the fifth such loading there in the past five years, according to TankerTrackers.com.
The development suggests Tehran may be seeking to diversify export routes as geopolitical tensions intensify.
The conflict has already rattled global energy markets, with crude prices briefly climbing above $100 per barrel earlier in the week amid fears that fighting could disrupt supplies moving through the Middle East.
Analysts say the situation remains volatile, with traders closely watching whether Iran will continue exporting oil at current levels or whether shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could tighten global supply further.
For now, the continued flow of Iranian oil to China underscores the resilience of energy trade networks even during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.
