TEHRAN (AP): An Iranian oil tanker carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil has reached a Chinese port despite a US naval blockade, according to a tanker-tracking company.
The company said the vessel arrived at the Chinese port after a voyage lasting around three and a half months. It added that satellite imagery had confirmed the tanker’s presence at the port, providing evidence of its arrival.
The reported development comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Iran’s oil exports and US efforts to restrict the country’s maritime trade.
According to the tanker-tracking company, the vessel completed its lengthy journey while carrying a substantial cargo of Iranian crude oil. However, the company’s publicly reported information did not identify the Chinese port or provide further details about the vessel’s route and ownership.
Iranian media had previously reported that no Iranian oil tanker had reached China since the United States began imposing a naval blockade on July 14.
If confirmed, the latest arrival would mark a significant development in Iran’s efforts to maintain crude oil exports to China despite restrictions on its maritime trade.
China has remained an important destination for Iranian oil exports, although sanctions and restrictions have complicated the movement, shipping and payment arrangements associated with the trade.