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Iranian supertanker carrying $220m oil cargo slips past US blockade

Washington has tightened maritime surveillance as part of broader efforts to curb Iranian oil exports during the conflict.

2 min read May 3, 2026 11:35 AM IST First published on: May 3, 2026 at 11:35 AM IST

An oil tanker is anchored off the Baniyas refinery, north of the Mediterranean coastal city of Baniyas in Tartus Governorate, western Syria. (Photo: AP)

An Iranian supertanker loaded with crude worth nearly $220 million has evaded US naval monitoring and reached waters in Southeast Asia, according to maritime tracking firm TankerTrackers, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of enforcement measures against Tehran.

The vessel, operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), is said to be carrying more than 1.9 million barrels of oil.

“A NITC VLCC supertanker carrying over 1.9 million barrels… has managed to evade the US Navy and reach the Far East,” TankerTrackers said in a post on the social…