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| Strait of Hormuz |
US news reports on Wednesday indicated that Iran has prepared for the possibility of a return to the US naval blockade by bolstering its "shadow fleet" of tankers and ships.
Specialized maritime security reports said that Iran has intensified its movements in the Strait of Hormuz, through ships believed to be operating within what are known as "shadow fleets," in a move that appears aimed at limiting the effects of any new tightening of US sanctions on its oil exports.
According to those reports, 23 Iranian ships were spotted in the Strait of Hormuz, including ships that had turned off their transponders or were flying incorrect flags, making them more difficult to track.
She also pointed out that Tehran has for years relied on front company networks and indirect shipping operations to pass part of its oil to foreign markets, primarily China.
Estimates suggest that a large portion of Iranian oil is transported through complex routes to change the source of shipments and conceal their identity, while other analyses indicate that Iran has continued to export large quantities of crude oil recently despite the restrictions imposed on it.
The United States had previously tightened sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, which impacted Tehran’s revenues and increased pressure on its economy, at a time when economic data indicates rising inflation within the country, particularly food prices.
