Watchdog Says 9 Iranian Tankers Have Slipped Past U.S. Blockade Since July

At least nine small tankers carrying Iranian oil or LPG have breached the U.S. naval blockade since it was reinstated July 14, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).

The group says it filmed one of them, the SOGL, carrying about 500,000 barrels of sanctioned Iranian LPG to Xinzhou Port in China. UANI says the tanker loaded at Assaluyeh Port in late August and escaped the blockade on Sept. 1. UANI chartered a supply vessel on Sept. 16 and entered the anchorage off Malaysia, about 70 km from shore, to document it. Treasury's OFAC added the SOGL to its sanctions list on Oct. 8.

"Now China is importing almost 100% of Iran's oil and LPG exports," UANI senior analyst Jemima Shelley said.

The blockade was first imposed April 13, lifted temporarily in mid-June and reinstated July 14. Iranian floating storage has reportedly fallen to "zero to seven million barrels." Fox News Digital has requested comment from CENTCOM.