Iran, US claims conflict over Hormuz as three Indian crude tankers emerge
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Iran, US claims conflict over Hormuz as three Indian crude tankers emerge

Economy World


Three fully laden India-linked supertankers have re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, adding to increased reports of traffic moving both ways across the northern and southern routes of the Strait of Hormuz, while conflicting narratives over the status of transits persist.

The Desh Vibhor, Desh Vaibhav and Sanmar Herald were observed in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea on Sunday, after having been last seen signalling their attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz late on Friday, according to ship-tracking data.

The supertankers, each signalling Indian ownership or India-bound cargo, carry nearly 6 million barrels of Iraqi and Kuwaiti oil. It could not be immediately determined the routes that these tankers took, but their attempts to sail towards the Iranian island of Qeshm suggest they may have taken a route approved by Tehran.

Shipping Corporation of India, which is listed as the owner and manager of Desh Vibhor and Desh Vaibhav, on database Equasis, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment outside regular business hours. Neither did Sanmar Shipping Ltd., the operator of Sanmar Herald.

The remains of deceased Aditya Sharma arriving at his home in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India on Thursday. Sharma was among three crew members killed in a US attack on the Indian-crewed tanker MT Settebello. Photo: Reuters
The remains of deceased Aditya Sharma arriving at his home in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India on Thursday. Sharma was among three crew members killed in a US attack on the Indian-crewed tanker MT Settebello. Photo: Reuters
The India-linked very large crude carriers’ journeys are part of a growing tally of tankers that also embarked on crossings either way through the energy chokepoint. The transits come amid competing narratives from Iran and the US even as the two sides are set to begin peace deal negotiations on Sunday.

Iran proclaimed the strait shut on Saturday, that it was doing so because Israel’s continued attacks in southern Lebanon had violated a ceasefire deal. The US Central Command pushed back against the claim on Saturday, saying traffic had increased with 55 merchant ships crossing the strait – delivering nearly 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.

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