# Iran Moves Oil Through Strait of Hormuz With Transponders Disabled
Six US-sanctioned Iranian supertankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman over the past week while operating with their transponders switched off, according to ship-tracking data. The vessels have a combined carrying capacity of 12 million barrels of crude oil.
The tankers' decision to disable their transponders—devices that broadcast a ship's location, identity and course—suggests an effort to avoid detection as they transport sanctioned cargo through one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass.
The movement represents Iran's continued efforts to export oil despite US economic sanctions imposed on the country's petroleum sector. By disabling tracking technology, the vessels limit visibility into their movements, complicating efforts by US authorities to monitor sanctioned oil exports.
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