Iran has been able to export limited shipments of liquefied petroleum gas and aviation fuel since July, despite the US naval blockade imposed on its exports, benefiting from the transfer of shipments between ships in Gulf waters, according to maritime intelligence information and sources in the shipping sector.
While Washington confirms that the blockade significantly limits Iranian energy exports, these shipments reveal Tehran's attempts to circumvent the restrictions and maintain limited outlets for discharging its oil products.
Four sources working in the field of maritime security and monitoring oil movements in the Gulf told Reuters that Iran has been able in recent weeks to pass shipments of liquefied petroleum gas, by hiding them as part of increasing operations to transfer petroleum products from one ship to another.
These exports had not appeared in previous reports in this way, and despite their limited size compared to Iran’s energy exports before the imposition of the blockade, they provide indications of the continued flow of some Iranian petroleum products to foreign markets.
An analysis by United Against Nuclear Iran, which monitors the movement of Iran-linked oil tankers using ship tracking data and satellite images, showed that at least 8 gas tankers loaded with Iranian liquefied petroleum gas have left the Gulf of Oman since mid-July.
Satellite images
Satellite images and analyzes by the Naval Intelligence Group “Cinemax” also showed the arrival of another tanker carrying Iranian aviation fuel to Myanmar in September.
According to a Reuters analysis of US ship and sanctions data, 6 of the 8 gas tankers, in addition to the aviation fuel tanker, are subject to US sanctions due to transporting Iranian oil and petrochemical products.
Jemima Shelley, a researcher at the United Against Nuclear Iran organization, said that the organization monitored a limited number of tankers carrying Iranian liquefied petroleum gas, while US forces redirected the vast majority of tankers carrying Iranian products.
She added that some gas tankers transported their shipments near the coastal cities of Shinas and Sohar in Oman, while other tankers waited in the Gulf of Oman before trying to bypass the US blockade, which US Central Command (Centcom) said extends across the Gulf near the Iranian-Pakistani border.
Chile estimated the total LPG shipments monitored by the organization at about 4.1 million barrels, noting that these movements appear to be driven by seizing limited opportunities to export products, rather than evidence of a broad strategic shift towards using smaller ships to circumvent restrictions.
According to the organization's analysis, most of the shipments headed to a port in Malaysia, where additional operations to transfer them between ships are likely to take place, before arriving at potential destinations in China.
The American Army: The siege is tight
On the other hand, the US Central Command confirms that the naval blockade is still tight, and that the passage of some ships does not necessarily mean they have succeeded in escaping the restrictions.
A US military official told Reuters that US forces are evaluating the movement of each ship individually, through procedures that include reviewing documents, noting that some ships may be allowed to pass for humanitarian reasons.
The official explained that the inclusion of a ship on US sanctions lists is not the only factor that determines its subjection to the blockade, pointing out that the forces are closely monitoring some ships without taking direct measures against them for operational reasons.
In an update issued on October 13, US Central Command said that its forces disabled 4 commercial ships and returned 135 other ships during the recent blockade, which lasted three months, according to the statement. The command had stated in previous statements that it had returned ships coming from Asia and confiscated some tankers.
American skepticism about the data
A spokesman for the US Treasury Department questioned the accuracy of shipping data that indicates the success of ships in bypassing the blockade, saying that some ships may tamper with their locations or use fake identities during loading operations, calling for this data to be treated with caution.
He added that what he described as “economic exclusion,” in addition to the naval blockade, exacerbates the pressure on Iran and limits its ability to generate revenues.
The United States imposed the blockade for the first time on April 13, before lifting it in June after reaching a draft understanding with Iran, and then reimposing it on July 14 after the collapse of the agreement, according to the information contained in the report.
The blockade was accompanied by a campaign of financial and trade sanctions aimed at reducing Iranian revenues and cutting off Tehran's remaining external financial ties. In this context, Washington last week imposed new sanctions on 17 ships that it said were involved in transporting Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals, and petroleum products.
Pressures push Tehran to take risks
Attempts to export petroleum products come at a time when Iran is facing increasing economic pressure, amid a decline in its ability to sell crude oil and increasing restrictions imposed on its commercial and financial dealings.
Torbjörn Soltvedt, senior analyst for the Middle East at Verisk Maplecroft, a company specializing in risk information, said that the deterioration of economic conditions may push Iran to take greater risks in trying to pass limited shipments, although there are no indications of the possibility of easing the blockade.
He pointed out that aviation fuel may represent a suitable option for Iran in these circumstances, given the increasing pressures on the Iranian aviation sector due to US sanctions, and the resulting grounding of an increasing number of aircraft, which may leave a surplus of aviation fuel in local refineries.
In an indication of the extent of the pressure facing Iranian energy exports, Kpler, a company specializing in analyzing shipping and energy data, said that Iranian crude oil exports fell to zero in September, the first month in which no shipment was recorded since the company began tracking Iran’s activities in 2013.
For his part, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said that the blockade prevented most of China's purchases of Iranian oil, and made Iran unable to supply crude oil to its customers.
These data indicate that the US blockade imposes broad restrictions on Iranian energy exports, although the limited shipments of liquefied petroleum gas and aviation fuel indicate that Tehran is still trying to exploit the available gaps in maritime shipping traffic. But the continuation of these operations does not necessarily mean the emergence of an alternative path capable of compensating for the losses of crude oil exports, especially in light of the tightening of sanctions and the monitoring of tankers and transfers between ships.
The crisis between the United States and Iran continues, in the absence of clear indications that a settlement is imminent, with escalating military threats and the exchange of accusations regarding the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. While Tehran affirms its willingness to continue dialogue, at the same time it adheres to the necessity of preparing for war, amid reports of new American plans to target Iranian nuclear sites and vital facilities, including the possibility of using the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal.
Trump and the nuclear option
US President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of targeting the “Ax Mountain” site, which is linked to the Iranian nuclear program, as part of Washington’s efforts to prevent Tehran from possessing a nuclear weapon, warning that Iran might use it if it was able to obtain it.
Trump said, in an interview with Newsmax, that Iran's nuclear facilities are buried under huge mountains, noting that the United States is considering targeting the "Peakax Mountain" site, adding that his country may have to strike and destroy it quickly.
On the other hand, Trump ruled out the use of nuclear weapons in the war on Iran, which began in February with American-Israeli strikes, stressing that Washington does not need to use this type of weapon to achieve its military goals.
He said that the United States would not use a nuclear bomb, but pointed out the possibility of resorting to highly destructive conventional weapons, describing one of them as similar to a small nuclear bomb, while stressing that it is not nuclear. He did not clarify whether he authorized the use of the American bomb known as the “Mother of All Bombs.”
Trump also renewed his rule out sending American ground forces to Iran, revealing that Tehran had requested a halt to the American attacks, and that contacts related to the negotiations were still continuing.
Trump's statements reflect Washington's adherence to military pressure to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, while keeping the door to negotiation open, even though threats to target heavily fortified sites increase the possibility of the confrontation expanding.
America and the “Mother of All Bombs”
In a related context, CNN had quoted informed sources that the US military had drawn up new plans to launch strikes on Iran, including the possibility of using the bomb known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” which is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal.
According to the report, potential plans include targeting energy facilities and sensitive Iranian nuclear sites, if Trump decides to resume combat operations. It is not clear whether the US administration has taken a decision to use this weapon, or whether the matter is still within the framework of military planning.
The bomb weighs about 10 tons and has a great destructive capacity, which makes the possibility of its use an indication of Washington's readiness to expand the scope of its strikes if diplomatic efforts collapse.
The military options being discussed include scenarios for resuming fighting before or after the US midterm elections, without the preparation of these plans meaning a final decision to implement them.
Pezeshkian: We are not seeking a nuclear weapon
On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that the continuation of US sanctions will lead to a worsening of the situation, calling on Washington to adopt dialogue and logic instead of a policy of force in dealing with Tehran.
During his meetings in Armenia, Pezeshkian said that Iran does not seek to possess a nuclear weapon, and that it is ready for dialogue, stressing that his country will not be subject to sanctions, and will continue to strengthen its relations with the countries of the world by relying on its people and coordinating with its neighbors.
The Iranian President warned that the continued impact of the American approach would not be limited to Iran, but would extend to other countries, considering that resorting to dialogue was better than continuing military pressure and threats.
His statements coincide with reports that the Trump administration is considering options to resume combat operations, which reflects the continued divergence between the American and Iranian positions, despite talk of negotiations remaining in place.
For his part, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said that his country is required to maintain its readiness for war in parallel with continuing negotiations, accusing Trump of breaking his promises and reneging on his pledges.
Iranian positions indicate an attempt to combine keeping the diplomatic track open and preparing for the possibility of renewed confrontation, at a time when Washington continues to threaten military options and tighten economic sanctions.
Between the field escalation, financial pressures, and adherence to negotiations, the US-Iranian crisis appears to be facing a very sensitive stage, the outcome of which depends on the ability of both parties to contain the tension and prevent the mutual threats from turning into a broader confrontation.
Centcom refutes the allegations
In terms of navigation security, the Iranian Navy announced on Friday that it had spotted a burning oil tanker while trying to cross a restricted area in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to what was reported by official Iranian media.
The Navy said that the tanker turned off its tracking systems before attempting to cross, and described its movement as a violation of the rules in force in the region, warning that uncoordinated movements in shipping lanes and prohibited areas pose a danger to other ships. The Iranian authorities did not explain the cause of the fire.
On Thursday, the Iranian Navy announced that it had spotted another tanker in which a fire broke out while it was trying to cross a restricted area in the Gulf of Oman, noting that the ship had turned off its tracking systems before entering the area.
On the other hand, the US Central Command (Centcom) accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard of continuing what it described as “false claims” regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the United States and its regional partners continue to secure the waterway, and that commercial shipping traffic continues despite the Iranian attacks.
Centcom said, in a post on the “X” platform, that the Iranian allegations regarding a container ship flying the Singapore flag colliding with a sea mine in the strait on Wednesday are incorrect. She added that the civilian ship "M/V GFS Pride" was hit by a missile fired by the Revolutionary Guards, before it sank while being towed to shore.
The US Central Command indicated that more than 40 ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz during the previous 24 hours, stressing that the main navigation routes in it were still free of mines.
Centcom also denied Iranian reports about the killing of hundreds of American soldiers in Jordan, and said that 3 American soldiers were killed last July while defending partner forces against attacks linked to Iran, stressing that it honors the memory of American soldiers who died during service.
The exchange of accusations over tankers and commercial ships highlights the extent of the tension surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which represents a vital corridor for global trade and energy supplies. Conflicting accounts of maritime incidents also make it more difficult to assess the situation on the ground, at a time when Washington seeks to confirm the continuation of navigation traffic, while Tehran warns of the dangers of movements in areas it describes as prohibited.
Sanctions and blockades
As part of the tightening of economic pressures, the United States, on Thursday evening, imposed sanctions on the Cuban “Banco Internacional de Comercio” (BESCA), accusing it of continuing to deal with the Iranian “Caravarin” Bank, which has been subject to US sanctions since 2020.
Washington said that the Cuban bank has maintained its relations with the Iranian bank since 2022, considering that these transactions fall within the activities that the United States seeks to limit, by expanding the scope of sanctions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Cuba had for a long time allowed hostile parties and groups that Washington classifies as terrorists to use its territory as a platform for their activities, accusing Iran of being the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world.
The measure comes in the context of a US policy aimed at increasing financial pressure on Tehran, by targeting foreign entities and institutions that Washington accuses of continuing to deal with Iranian entities listed on the sanctions lists.
