Iran Exports 11.8 Million Barrels of Oil to China Since the Outbreak of the War

SadaNews - Iran has continued to send large quantities of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz to China, despite the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran which has put oil supplies via this maritime passage at risk.

Samir Madani, co-founder of the company TankerTrackers, stated that Iran has sent no less than 11.7 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began on February 28, all of which were headed to China.

The company monitors ship movements using satellite imagery, allowing it to track vessels that may not be detected when they disable their tracking systems. Many ships have disappeared from tracking systems after Tehran threatened to attack any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway.

For its part, shipping data company Kpler estimated that around 12 million barrels of crude oil have passed through the strait since the outbreak of the war.

Nawhay Khain Sui, an oil analyst at the company, stated that China has been the main buyer of Iranian oil in recent years, so it is likely that a significant portion of these shipments is directed there.

However, she also pointed out that confirming the final destination of these ships has become more difficult under the current circumstances.

The Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for the transportation of about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies, has seen a sharp decline in navigation since the outbreak of the war last month, with ship movements becoming very slow as most oil tankers avoid passing through this besieged passage.

Reports from the International Maritime Organization indicated that at least seven attacks on ships in or near the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in the deaths of at least seven sailors since the war began.

In this context, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in an interview with CNBC that oil tankers passing through the strait must be very cautious due to the rising tensions and hostilities.